Consult UPSC for selecting police chiefs, SC tells States

Consult UPSC for selecting police chiefs, SC tells States

News:

1. The Supreme Court has issued directives to be followed by States while appointing the Director General of Police (DGP).

Important facts:

2. The apex court restrained state governments from appointing director general of police without first consulting UPSC.

3. The State concerned has to send to UPSC the names of officers fit to be DGP three months before the incumbent DGP is to retire.

4. Accordingly, the Commission will prepare list of three officers fit to be DGP and send it back.

5. The appointment will give priority to merit and seniority.

6. The tenure should be of two years.

7. The court passed the directions on a 2006 Judgment on a petition filed by former DGP for reform in police forms.

8. Only five states- Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, and Rajasthan have implemented the Supreme Court direction of 2006 to consult the UPSC on the appointment of DGPs.

9. In 2006, the court passed seven directions, to “ensure that state governments do not exercise unwarranted influence or pressure on the police”.

10. Some states appointed their ‘favourite’ officers as DGP on the date of retirement so that they would continue to serve for another two years till the age of 62 years.

11. On the practice of appointing practice DGPs, court ruled that States shall not “ever conceive of the idea” of such appointments. There is no concept of acting DGPs, court ruled.