With the state government preparing to implement the seven-point Supreme Court directives in the police department, the countdown for the appointment of new Director General of Police (DGP) in place of present police chief Bua Singh has commenced.
The apex court had directed the state governments in September last to appoint the DGP from a panel of three "seniormost" IPS officers who had been empanelled by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Earlier the Union Home Ministry used to empanel the IPS officers.
In UP, there are 11 officers of DG rank but only two DG—CB Satpathy and DP Sinha (both 1972 batch) are empanelled as DG. But they are not "seniormost officers" as per the court directive. "With a clear cut court directive in connection with the DGP's appointment, the state government doesn't have any escape route", commented a DG level officer.
While four senior most officers—Director CBI Vijay Shankar (1969), DG BSF AK Mitra, Special Director IB Ranjit K Das (both 1970) and DG SSB Tilak Kak (1971) are unlikely to opt for UP police leadership, the UPSC would have to empanel three officers for the selection of the new DGP from the present lot of 11 DGs.
Three seniormost of them are DG Homeguards VKB Nair (1971), Director Vigilance GL Sharma and Chairman/MD Police Housing Corporation Yashpal Sing (both 1972). Nair and Yashpal had earlier served as DGP. Only Nair is empanelled as ADG.
The apex court had directed the state government that "the DGP shall be selected by the state government from amongst the three seniormost officers of the department who have been empanelled for the promotion to that rank by UPSC on the basis of their length of service, very good record and range of experience for heading the police force. And once he has been selected for the job, he should have a minimum tenure of at least two years irrespective of his date of superannuation". The court has directed that seven-point directives "shall be complied with by the central, state or union territories on or before December 31, 2006".
The chief secretary has been directed to file an affidavit of compliance by January 3, 2007.
The apex court had directed the state government that "the DGP shall be selected by the state government from amongst the three seniormost officers of the department who have been empanelled for the promotion to that rank by UPSC on the basis of their length of service, very good record and range of experience for heading the police force. And once he has been selected for the job, he should have a minimum tenure of at least two years irrespective of his date of superannuation". The court has directed that seven-point directives "shall be complied with by the central, state or union territories on or before December 31, 2006".
The chief secretary has been directed to file an affidavit of compliance by January 3, 2007.
Highly placed sources said that the state government had planned to send a list of at least half a dozen DG level officers to UPSC for their empanelment and preparation of a panel of three officers for the next DGP. Sources said that the 15 years service record would be taken into consideration for empanelment as DG. The state government would have liberty to appoint one of the three empanelled officers as the next DGP.
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