The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has directed the West Bengal government to seek clarification from the Supreme Court regarding the appointment of a successor to acting Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar, who is scheduled to retire on January 31. Citing significant delays, the commission has also returned the list of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers recommended by the state for the top post.
Missed Deadline and Procedural Hurdles
According to the UPSC, the state government of West Bengal missed a crucial Supreme Court-mandated deadline. Apex court guidelines require a state to send its proposed panel of officers to the UPSC at least three months before the incumbent DGP's retirement. The process for selecting Kumar's successor began when Nabanna, the state secretariat, sent a list to the UPSC on July 23, 2025, urging it to convene an Empanelment Committee Meeting (ECM).
However, the UPSC pointed out that the post of DGP had actually fallen vacant earlier, on December 28, 2023, following the completion of the mandatory two-year term of the previous DGP, Manoj Malviya. The commission stated that the state's proposal was submitted with an "inordinate delay," well past the stipulated timeframe.
Divergent Views and Legal Opinion
In a letter dated December 31, 2025, the UPSC informed the state that an ECM was held on October 30, 2025. During this meeting, the commission examined the records and clarifications submitted by the Bengal government regarding the delay. "Divergent views emerged among the UPSC committee members regarding the date of occurrence of vacancy, due to the delayed submission of the proposal by Nabanna," the letter noted.
Seeking legal resolution, the UPSC consulted the Attorney General. The legal opinion was clear: there is "no provision for UPSC to condone such inordinate delay and then proceed as though no irregularity had occurred." The Attorney General advised that accepting Bengal's proposal would create serious anomalies and that the state should have first approached the Supreme Court if it faced any difficulties.
Impending Retirements and Leadership Vacuum
The situation is compounded by a wave of retirements in the state's top police brass. Apart from acting DGP Rajeev Kumar, three other DG-rank IPS officers are set to retire in January. These officers are Rajesh Kumar (Principal Secretary of Mass Education and Library Services), Ranvir Kumar (DG, Fire), and Jag Mohan (Director of Civil Defence). Furthermore, DG (Rail) Debashis Roy will retire in February.
Consequently, the UPSC has advised Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty to approach the Supreme Court for necessary clarifications on the appointment process before any further steps can be taken. The return of the panel list leaves the crucial process of appointing a permanent police chief in a state of limbo as the retirement date of the incumbent approaches.
