SC to hear PIL alleging breach of guidelines in Odisha DGP appointment process

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the manner in which the Odisha government has been selecting candidates for the Director General of Police (DGP) post. The PIL, filed by senior advocate P Chidambaram, alleges that the state government is contravening the directions issued by the apex court in the 2006 Prakash Singh case.

According to the court's judgment in Prakash Singh, the DGP should be selected from among the three senior-most officers of the department, who have been empanelled by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) based on their length of service, excellent record, and experience. Moreover, the selected DGP must serve a minimum tenure of two years, irrespective of their superannuation date.

Chidambaram stated that the incumbent DGP, Y B Khurania, is set to retire on August 16, 2022. The 2006 apex court verdict emphasized that the state government must adhere to the UPSC's empanelled list for DGP appointments and ensure a two-year minimum tenure for the appointed DGP.

The PIL argues that the Odisha government is attempting to include an additional Director General of Police (ADGP) and an ineligible officer in the panel of candidates to be sent to the UPSC for selection. Chidambaram highlighted that the UPSC is scheduled to meet on August 7, 2022, to consider the panel of eligible DGP-level officers. However, the state government withdrew the list of officers sent to the UPSC.

Chidambaram alleged that the Odisha government is now preparing another list and attempting to include the ineligible officer in it. The supreme court bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, was urged to hear the PIL urgently.