The Punjab and Haryana High Court came down heavily on the Punjab government on Thursday for continuing to delay the appointment of a regular DGP and directed it to expedite it. The court said that an ad hoc arrangement for such a top post ought not be allowed for an indefinite period.
Punjab has not had a regular DGP (head of police force) for more than the past four years.
The court observed that such a prolonged ad hoc arrangement raises serious institutional concerns, as an officer holding the post merely on additional charge may always remain in a potentially compromising situation.
A division bench of justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and justice Rohit Kapoor asked the govt to take an appropriate decision and inform the court about it through an affidavit by the Chief Secretary by October 13.
The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL), filed on September 9 by advocate Nikhil Thamman, alleging that Punjab had failed to appoint a regular DGP despite directions issued by the Supreme Court regarding the selection and minimum tenure of the police chief. The PIL sought immediate appointment of a regular DGP.
The petitioner stated that the post of DGP has continued to be held through an additional-charge arrangement since July 2022. The PIL refers to an order dated July 4, 2022, under which IPS officer Gaurav Yadav (IPS:1992:PB) was given additional charge of DGP, and an order dated Sept 2, 2022 continued that arrangement “till further orders”.
The court was informed that the Punjab govt has been sitting on the appointment of a regular DGP even though the UPSC has already shortlisted a panel of three officers for the DGP post and sent it to the state govt in the first week of July.
The govt counsel told the court that names recommended by the UPSC are under active consideration of the state govt, and it is taking necessary steps.
The High Court also asked the govt to clarify as to why no decision was taken in the matter, when the panel is already received way back in July, 2026.
Interestingly, in response to the PIL, the state govt had told the High Court that an affidavit had been filed by the Punjab govt, stating that the issue was also being monitored by the Supreme Court in Prakash Singh case, pending as Writ Petition (Civil) No. 310 of 1996. The affidavit was taken on record.
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