Race to post of Odisha DGP hit by controversies
Odisha has forwarded names of 11 IPS officers to UPSC as against three senior most IPS officers laid down procedure in Prakash Singh versus Union Government case
As the clock ticks down to the appointment of the new Director General of Police in Odisha, the process has been fraught with controversy. Four days remain until incumbent DGP Y. B. Khurania retires, and the race for the top policing position has been marred by legal challenges and internal disputes. A public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the appointment procedure is currently before the Supreme Court, stemming from Prakash Singh versus Union Government case.
The BJP government is accused of attempting to appoint an officer from outside the recommended panel of senior-most IPS officers. Activists have also joined the fray, filing PILs and petitions to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The incumbent DGP, Mr. Khurania, a 1990 batch IPS officer, was appointed on August 16, 2024, and will step down on the same date in 2026.
The original list of three senior officers recommended to the UPSC was expanded to 11 names by the Mohan Majhi government, prompting concerns that the process has been compromised. Two officers from the 1994 batch, Sanjeeb Kumar Panda and Yeshwant Kumar Jethwa, have been promoted to DGP, potentially placing them in contention for the post.
Senior lawyer P. Chidambaram has joined the legal battle, arguing that the Odisha government violated the Prakash Singh judgment in its appointment of the DGP. Critics have highlighted controversies surrounding another senior IPS officer who may be considered for the DGP position.
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