The Haryana government on Wednesday appointed 1992-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Ajay Singhal as the state's new Director General of Police (DGP). The appointment fills the vacancy created by the retirement of his batchmate, O P Singh, who held the top post as an additional charge.
The Appointment Process and UPSC Panel
The selection was made from a panel of three senior IPS officers empanelled by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The panel included Shatrujeet Singh Kapur (1990 batch), Ajay Singhal (1992 batch), and Alok Mittal (1993 batch). After a meeting in New Delhi attended by Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, the UPSC sent the approved panel to the state government.
Following the due process, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and other senior officials gave their approval for Singhal's name. A formal order issued by Dr. Sumita Misra, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), stated that the Governor of Haryana appointed Ajay Singhal as DGP for a minimum tenure of two years from the date he assumes charge.
Profile of the New Police Chief
Born on October 15, 1968, Ajay Singhal is a native of Rewari in Haryana and holds a BTech degree. He is due to retire on October 31, 2028. Throughout his service career, he has held several key positions, including Director General (Prisons) and Director General of the State Vigilance Bureau and Anti-Corruption Bureau, a role he was appointed to earlier this month.
He has also served in important roles across various districts in the state. His appointment as the full-time police chief brings stability to the top post, which saw a change in October after the then DGP, Shatrujeet Kapur, proceeded on leave.
Context of the Change in Leadership
The leadership change in Haryana Police occurs against a backdrop of recent challenges. In October this year, the force was embroiled in controversy following the back-to-back suicides of IPS officer Y Puran Kumar on October 7 and ASI Sandeep Kumar Lathar on October 14. These events led to the appointment of O P Singh as the DGP with additional charge.
With O P Singh's retirement on Wednesday, for which a farewell was held at the Haryana Police Academy in Madhuban, Karnal, the government moved to finalize a permanent chief. Singhal, being the senior-most among the considered Haryana cadre officers, was chosen for the role.
The other officers on the UPSC panel, Alok Mittal and Shatrujeet Kapur, continue in their respective roles. Mittal is the Managing Director of Haryana Police Housing Corporation with additional charge as Resident Commissioner, while Kapur is the Chairman of the Haryana Police Housing Corporation. Mittal is set to retire on June 30, 2029, and Kapur on October 31, 2026.
