Punjab Government to Submit DGP Candidate Panel to UPSC with Key Condition
In a significant policy shift, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann declared on Saturday that the state administration will promptly forward a panel of prospective candidates for the Director General of Police (DGP) position to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). This move aims to address the prolonged vacancy in the regular appointment of the state's top police official, which has drawn criticism from opposition parties.
CM Mann's Announcement and Key Demand
Speaking to media representatives, CM Mann confirmed the decision to comply with the UPSC process for selecting the DGP. However, he emphasized a crucial condition: the UPSC's empanelment committee, responsible for shortlisting officers, must include Punjab's Home Secretary as a member. This inclusion is intended to ensure better representation of state-specific perspectives and interests during the selection process.
Background on the DGP Appointment Delay
Punjab has not submitted a panel to the UPSC for a regular DGP appointment since the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government assumed power in March 2022. Currently, Gaurav Yadav, a 1992-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer appointed in July 2022, serves as the incumbent DGP, overseeing law and order, crime control, and administration of the Punjab Police.
The appointment procedure originates from Supreme Court directives in the 2006 Prakash Singh case and subsequent clarifications. These mandates require states to send a list of eligible senior IPS officers to the UPSC three months before a vacancy arises. The UPSC then shortlists a panel of three names, from which the state government selects one for the DGP role.
Previous Resistance and Recent Developments
Earlier, Punjab had resisted this UPSC-led process by passing the Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill in 2023. This legislation aimed to empower the state to appoint its DGP through a separate state-level committee, though it remains pending presidential assent. Recent reminders from the UPSC in February and March 2026, citing a Supreme Court order that disapproves of prolonged "acting" arrangements, pressured the state to adhere to the established procedure.
CM Mann's latest statement signals a potential alignment with the UPSC route, albeit with the proposed modification to include the Home Secretary in the shortlisting phase. This development occurs amidst ongoing scrutiny from opposition groups over the delay in finalizing a permanent DGP, highlighting the political and administrative challenges surrounding police leadership appointments in the state.
