The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the Tamil Nadu government to substitute the acting DGP with another top-ranking officer to represent the state in the DGP selection committee of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
The state govt had objected to having the acting DGP in the committee for selecting a regular DGP, as he also aspires to be considered for the post. The govt’s contention was that in the present selection committee, the state was being represented by its Chief Secretary and the acting DGP, and hence it wished to nominate a substitute for the acting DGP.
The bench noted that the acting DGP also wants to contest for the appointment as the regular DGP and is one of the eligible officers, so he cannot be part of the selection committee. Considering the same, the Court permitted the State Government to recommend a substitute, mainly an officer who is higher in rank and status than the DGP, within 1 week to the UPSC.
The UPSC will make the panel recommendations within 2 weeks after receiving the substitute’s name.
According to the apex court order, the state govt has to nominate an officer, preferably a superior higher in rank and status than the DGP, like an Additional Chief Secretary, as a substitute in the Selection Committee of the UPSC.
The Tamil Nadu government had filed the application seeking directions to ensure that the panel of officers prepared by the UPSC for the appointment of DGP follows the Revised Guidelines issued through circular on September 26, 2023, and the directions issued by it in the Prakash Singh v. Union of India case.
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