The process of appointing a regular Director General of Police (DGP) in Punjab may face further delay as the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has sought additional information from the Punjab government regarding two senior IPS officers before convening the empanelment committee meeting.
The Punjab government had sent a list of 14 IPS officers to UPSC on April 6, from which the Commission is expected to shortlist three names for the post of DGP.
According to reports, UPSC has asked the state government to provide the present status of pending cases and supporting documents related to complaints against Sharad Satya Chauhan (IPS:1992:PB), Director of Punjab Vigilance Bureau and the senior-most officer among the 14 names under consideration.
The query came days after the CBI conducted searches at the Punjab Vigilance Bureau headquarters in Mohali in connection with an alleged bribery case in which Chauhan’s reader, Inspector OP Singh Rana, is among the accused. Rana is currently absconding.
The development assumes significance as the Supreme Court had earlier pulled up several states, including Punjab, for continuing with officiating DGPs instead of appointing regular police chiefs in accordance with established procedures.
Punjab has been functioning with an officiating DGP since July 2022 after Gaurav Yadav (IPS:1992:PB) took charge following the leave of then state police chief V K Bhawra (IPS:1987:PB). The Punjab government had also passed the Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill in 2023 to create a separate mechanism for DGP appointments, but the legislation is still awaiting Presidential assent.
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