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Tamil Nadu DGP Selection: UPSC to finalise panel on September 26

By
LO Bureau
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Tamil Nadu DGP empanelment

In a significant development, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will convene the Empanelment Committee Meeting (ECM) on September 26, 2025, in New Delhi to shortlist three senior IPS officers for appointment as the next Director General of Police (DGP) and Head of Police Force (HoPF) in Tamil Nadu, official sources confirmed.

The ECM will be chaired by the UPSC Chairman and include the Union Home Secretary, Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary N Muruganandam, and a senior officer nominated by the Ministry of Home Affairs from among Central Police Organisations or Central Armed Police Forces. Normally, the incumbent State DGP is part of the committee, but in this case, in-charge HoPF G Venkatraman (IPS:1994:TN) will not participate as he is himself in contention for the top post.

Top contenders

The Tamil Nadu government has forwarded eight names of eligible DGP-rank officers to the UPSC. Based on seniority, the frontrunners are:

  • Seema Agrawal (IPS:1992:TN)
  • Rajeev Kumar (IPS:1992:TN)
  • Sandeep Rai Rathore (IPS:1992;TN)

The other officers in the reckoning are K Vanniaperumal (IPS:1992:TN), Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal (IPS:1994:TN), G Venkataraman (IPS:1994:TN), Vinit Dev Wankhede (IPS:1994:TN), and Sanjay Mathur (IPS:1994:TN). However, DGPs Pramod Kumar (IPS:1989:TN) and Abhay Kumar Singh (IPS:1992:TN) are unlikely to be considered as they have less than six months of service left from the date of vacancy. Pramod Kumar is set to retire on September 30, while Abhay Kumar Singh will hang up his boots on December 31.

If selected, Seema Agrawal would become only the second woman to head the Tamil Nadu Police, after Letika Saran, who served as DGP from January 2010 to March 2011.

Supreme Court pressure after delay

The process was delayed because the Tamil Nadu government did not forward the panel of eligible IPS officers to the UPSC three months before the retirement of former DGP Shankar Jiwal (IPS:1990:TN), as required under the Prakash Singh judgment. This lapse prevented the UPSC from preparing the selection panel on time and forced the government to appoint G. Venkatraman as in-charge HoPF from September 1.

The delay triggered a contempt petition in the Supreme Court, which on September 9, 2025, directed the UPSC to finalise the panel “expeditiously” and instructed the Tamil Nadu government to appoint a regular DGP without further delay. Earlier, the State had cited a case pending before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) as a reason for the hold-up, but that petition was dismissed on April 30, 2025.

New empanelment system

This year, the process will be conducted under the UPSC’s newly introduced Single Window System, under which State Chief Secretaries must certify the eligibility of officers and provide an Integrity Certificate before the ECM begins.

Once the UPSC finalises the three names on September 26, the Tamil Nadu government is expected to issue orders swiftly. Sources indicated that the State could have a full-time DGP in place by early October 2025.

Also Read: SC pulls up Tamil Nadu over acting DGP, directs UPSC to act fast

Also Read: IPS Pramod Kumar seeks SC relief on six-month rule in Tamil Nadu DGP selection

CAT pulls up Kerala govt over DGP Yogesh Gupta’s vigilance clearance row

By
LO Bureau
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The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has issued a stern directive to the Kerala government in connection with a petition filed by Director General of Police (DGP) Yogesh Gupta (IPS:1993:KL), who alleged that the state is deliberately blocking his No Objection Certificate (NOC) for central deputation.

During the hearing on Monday, the CAT Kochi Bench ordered the state government to submit all documents related to the vigilance inquiry pending against Gupta. This includes correspondence from the Centre seeking vigilance clearance, reports prepared by the State Police Chief and Vigilance Chief, and files related to the preliminary investigation currently handled by the Chief Secretary’s office.

The tribunal expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s failure to file a timely response. After repeated reminders, a vague reply was eventually submitted, stating that a preliminary probe is underway into Gupta’s tenure as Vigilance Commissioner. According to the submission, Gupta allegedly sanctioned investigations against certain officials without proper sanction, possibly violating provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The reply added that vigilance clearance cannot be issued until the inquiry is complete but did not disclose the specifics of the complaints or the complainants.

The matter has its roots in April and May this year, when the Union Home Ministry requested Gupta’s vigilance clearance for consideration as Director General in central investigative agencies. According to reports, the Centre made at least nine reminders through letters and emails seeking his clearance. Despite this, the state did not respond, even as it promptly forwarded Gupta’s vigilance profile to the UPSC for consideration as Kerala’s State Police Chief during the same period — a contrast Gupta’s counsel terms “discriminatory.”

The case also highlights Gupta’s strained ties with the Pinarayi Vijayan government. Once seen as a trusted officer, his relationship with the administration broke down after, as Vigilance Chief, he submitted case files against KM Abraham, the Chief Minister’s close aide and then Principal Secretary, directly to the Kerala High Court. This move triggered a CBI probe into Abraham, though the Supreme Court later stayed the proceedings. Following this episode, Gupta was removed from the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau and relegated to less influential posts, including his current role heading Fire and Rescue Services.

In his petition filed on August 28, Gupta accused the state of deliberately obstructing his central deputation and sought disciplinary action against those responsible. The CAT is expected to resume hearings later this month.

Also Read: IPS officer Yogesh Gupta drags Kerala govt to CAT over vigilance clearance delay

SC Collegium recommends two Madras HC Additional Judges as Permanent

By
LO Bureau
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Madras High Court

The Supreme Court Collegium, in its meeting held on September 15, 2025, recommended the appointment of two Additional Judges of the Madras High Court as Permanent Judges.

The recommended names are:

  1. Justice N Senthilkumar
  2. Justice G Arul Murugan

SC Collegium recommends 3 Judicial Officers as Karnataka HC Judges

By
LO Bureau
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The Supreme Court Collegium, in its meeting held on September 15, 2025, recommended the elevation of three Judicial Officers as Judges of the Karnataka High Court.

The recommended names are:

  1. Geetha Kadaba Bharatharaja Setty
  2. Muralidhara Pai Borkatte
  3. Tyagaraja Narayan Inavally

These recommendations are part of the Collegium’s ongoing exercise to strengthen the judiciary by filling vacancies across various High Courts. The appointments will be finalized after approval by the Government of India and the issuance of an official notification.

Two Advocates recommended as Judges of Himachal Pradesh HC

By
LO Bureau
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Himachal High Court

The Supreme Court Collegium, in its meeting held on September 15, 2025, recommended the elevation of two Advocates as Judges of the Himachal Pradesh High Court.

The recommended names are:

  1. Jiya Lal Bhardwaj
  2. Romesh Verma

The recommendation comes as part of the Collegium’s ongoing efforts to fill judicial vacancies and strengthen the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s bench. The appointments will take effect following approval by the Government of India and subsequent notification.

Justice Biswajit Palit recommended for Permanent Judgeship in Tripura High Court

By
LO Bureau
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The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the appointment of Justice Biswajit Palit, presently serving as an Additional Judge, as a Permanent Judge of the Tripura High Court.

The Collegium gave its approval during a meeting held on September 15, 2025. Justice Palit’s elevation comes as part of the Collegium’s ongoing exercise to fill permanent vacancies across High Courts and ensure smoother judicial functioning.

Justice Soumen Sen to take charge as acting Chief Justice of Calcutta HC

By
LO Bureau
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The Union government on Wednesday (September 15, 2025) notified the appointment of Justice Soumen Sen, Judge of the Calcutta High Court, to perform the duties of the office of Chief Justice of the High Court. He will assume charge following the superannuation of Chief Justice T. S. Sivagnanam on September 15, 2025.

Dulal Halder selected as Director (Operations), ONGC Videsh Limited

By
LO Bureau
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Dulal Halder has been selected for appointment as Director (Operations), ONGC Videsh Limited. The selection was made during a Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) meeting held on September 15, 2025. He is currently serving as Chief General Manager Incharge- Facilities Engg. Group, Assam Asset, Oil & Natural Gas.

Following the PESB’s recommendation, his name has been forwarded to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for final approval. His appointment will be subject to necessary vigilance clearances and the ACC’s nod.

The following 11 applicants were interviewed in the selection meeting:

  1. Sunil Kumar, Executive Director Asset Manager, Mehsana Asset, Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC)
  2. Ashok Kumar, Executive Director Chief Corporate Marketing ; Director (nominee) in Mangalore SEZ Ltd, Special Invitee in ONGC Green Limited Board, Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC)
  3. Prabal Sengupta, Executive Director Surface Manager – EOA & HPHT ASSET, Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC)
  4. Chandra Sekhar Davuluri, Group General Manager, Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC)
  5. Shankar Sharan, Group General Manager Head-Refinery & Petrochemicals, Joint Ventures & Business Development, Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC)
  6. Rajeev Kumar Sinha, Chief General Manager Surface Area Manger and In-charge Marketing & Technical cell, Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC)
  7. K Karavannan, Chief General Manager Basin Manager KG-PG Basin, Rajahmundry, Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC)
  8. Sudhir Kumar, Managing Director, Petronet MHB Ltd., Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC)
  9. Sharad, Terway, Chief General Manager Surface Manager, Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC)
  10. Ajay Kumar Singh, Chief General Manager Head Squad of Western offshore squad formed for rejuvenation of Western offshore fields / Incharge surface equipment of NH Asset, Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC)
  11. Dr Dulal Halder, Chief General Manager Incharge- Facilities Engg. Group, Assam Asset, Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC)

IPS officer Astha Modi appointed as SP in CBI

By
LO Bureau
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Astha Modi (IPS:2013:HY) has been inducted into the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as Superintendent of Police (SP) for a tenure of five years.

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (September 12, 2025), the competent authority approved her induction on deputation basis for an initial period of five years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

IPS officer Raguramarajan A’s deputation as CBI SP extended till September 2026

By
LO Bureau
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The Central government has extended the deputation tenure of Raguramarajan A (IPS:2012:NL) as Superintendent of Police (SP) in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for one more year. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (September 12, 2025), the competent authority approved the extension of his tenure up to September 15, 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Raguramarajan was inducted into the CBI through an order issued in August 2019, and he assumed charge on September 15, 2019. His original deputation was for four years, scheduled to conclude in September 2023. However, before its expiry, his tenure was extended for two additional years, until September 15, 2025. With this fresh extension, he will now complete a total of seven years in the CBI.

Also Read: Raguramarajan A inducted in CBI as SP

Also Read: Deputation tenure of three CBI officers extended

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