New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday (September 29, 2026) concluded the hearing in the case concerning the appointment of the next Director General of Police (DGP) of Odisha and reserved its verdict.
The matter is being heard in the larger Prakash Singh vs Union of India proceedings concerning police reforms and the procedure for appointment of State DGPs.
During the final hearing, the Bench questioned the Odisha government over the creation of temporary ex-cadre posts and the subsequent addition of officers to the pool considered for DGP selection, despite the UPSC having already recommended a panel of three eligible cadre IPS officers.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Odisha Advocate General Pitambar Acharya defended the State’s decision, submitting that the larger pool was created to ensure more eligible candidates and that the process followed the applicable MHA parameters and the Supreme Court guidelines laid down in the Prakash Singh case.
The case also involves the temporary promotion of Sanjeeb Kumar Panda and Yashwant Kumar Jethwa, both 1994-batch IPS officers, to Level-16 through temporary ex-cadre arrangements and their subsequent consideration in the DGP selection process.
The proceedings have also examined the role of the UPSC in preparing and reviewing the panel in accordance with the prescribed framework.
The case record shows October 8, 2026 as a tentative listing date.
With the final arguments concluded, the Supreme Court has reserved its verdict in the Odisha DGP appointment case.
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