A proposal from the Kerala government to temporarily create two DGP posts and elevate two ADGPs who are already eligible for promotion to the rank of DGP was rejected by the Central government. Although it is unclear why the state asked the Centre for permission, since it is empowered to create temporary posts for a maximum of two years without seeking approval.
The state government has decided to create two temporary posts of DGPs in order to promote ADGPs K Padmakumar (IPS:1989:KL) and S Aananthakrishnan (IPS:1989:KL) to the post of DGP. The decision was made after state police chief Anil Kant (IPS:1988:KL), who was originally supposed to retire from the service on January 31 this year, got his tenure extended by one year and five months to give him a full two years tenure as the state police chief as per the Supreme Court’s verdict. Had Anil Kant retired on
January 31 this year, S Aananthakrishnan would have been promoted to the rank of DGP and when vigilance director K Sudesh Kumar retires on October 31 this year, K Padmakumar would have been elevated to the rank of DGP. In many of the states, officers who have completed 30 years in service have been elevated to the post of DGPs.
Due to extended service to the state police chief, the government decided to create two temporary positions of DGPs to accommodate the two officers. The state had then written to the ministry of home affairs seeking permission for the creation of the posts. Now that the Centre has denied permission, it would not be possible to create those posts.
