The Telangana High Court has issued a firm directive to the state government, instructing it to proceed with the process of sending a panel of eligible senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). This step is crucial for the selection of the state's next Director General of Police and Head of Police Force (DGP-HOPF).
Court's Directive and Deadline
Justice Pulla Karthik, presiding over the bench, emphasized the need to adhere to the Supreme Court's guidelines established in the landmark 'Prakash Singh vs Union of India' case. The court has given the state a strict deadline of two weeks to report its compliance with this order. The next hearing for this matter is scheduled for January 20.
The court's intervention came in response to a writ petition filed by T Dhangopal Rao. The petitioner challenged the appointment of B Shivadhar Reddy, the DGP Coordination, as the acting DGP-HOPF on September 26. The petition argued that this appointment violated the Supreme Court's ruling, which explicitly prohibits states from appointing a police chief on an acting or temporary basis.
UPSC's Communication with the State
During the proceedings, the counsel representing the UPSC provided a detailed timeline of communications with the Telangana government. The state had initially written to the UPSC on April 25, requesting a meeting of the empanelment committee for the DGP appointment.
The UPSC responded on May 20, asking for additional information to process the request. After the state's reply on June 18 was deemed incomplete, the Commission sent another reminder on July 21. The UPSC counsel stated that multiple follow-up reminders were subsequently issued to expedite the state's response, but the necessary details remained pending.
Clarification on Officer Eligibility
Advocate General A Sudershan Reddy, appearing for the state government, informed the court about a specific query they had raised with the UPSC. The state sought clarification on whether IPS officer Abhilasha Bhisht (1994 batch) could be included in the panel. Officer Bhisht, originally from the Andhra Pradesh cadre, continues to serve in Telangana under a High Court order.
The UPSC clarified that this officer is not eligible for inclusion in the panel to be forwarded for the DGP-HOPF selection process. With this clarification provided, the court directed the state to proceed without further delay.
The High Court's order reinforces the mandatory procedure for appointing a permanent police chief, ensuring transparency and adherence to the Supreme Court's reforms aimed at insulating the police force from political interference.
