After the Supreme Court cracked the whip on the practice of having acting DGPs, several states are now towing the line of appointing regular DGPs by sending a panel to the UPSC for empanelment. Uttar Pradesh too has reportedly moved decisively to end a nearly four-year phase of adhocism by forwarding a panel of senior IPS officers to the UPSC for the appointment of a regular DGP now.
Senior IPS officer Rajeev Krishna (IPS:1991:UP), who has been officiating as DGP for the last ten months while also serving as DG (vigilance), is considered the leading contender in the race. His continuity in the role, along with his seniority, places him firmly at the forefront for elevation, subject to UPSC empanelment and final approval.
According to sources, the UP government sent the names of eligible DG-rank officers to the UPSC earlier this week, nearly four months after initiating the process. This move clearly indicates a cautious but decisive action towards regularising the appointment. Though the exact date of the communication is not known, sources confirmed that the UPSC had indeed received the state govt’s request for empanelment.
This move occupies special significance as UP has not had a regular DGP since Mukul Goel (IPS:1987:UP) was removed from the post on May 11, 2022. Since then, the state has seen an unprecedented run of five consecutive acting DGPs. It often raised concerns over continuity, policy consistency, and command stability in one of the country’s largest police forces.
Now as the panel has been sent, the appointment of a regular DGP could be finalised once the UPSC completes its empanelment process and forwards its list of three top-ranking IPS officers to the state to choose one of them as a regular police chief. Needless to point out then that it will mark a formal end to the interim arrangement that has continued to dog the state for nearly four years.
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