The Jharkhand High Court on Monday (June 16, 2025) granted another opportunity to the state government, central government, and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to file their responses regarding the appointment of Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Gupta.
The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi, who has challenged Gupta’s appointment as unconstitutional and in violation of Supreme Court guidelines. With no replies submitted by the respondents so far, the next hearing has been scheduled for July 15.
During the proceedings, the Advocate General informed the division bench—comprising Chief Justice S. Ramchandra Rao and Justice Deepak Roshan—that a related matter is also pending before the Supreme Court.
In his petition, Marandi alleged that the state government bypassed constitutional procedures and misused the police machinery for political purposes. He argued that the appointment of the DGP must be carried out through a UPSC-led selection process unless the state enacts a formal law in this regard. Instead, the Jharkhand government framed a rule in 2025 and attempted to apply it retrospectively—an action Marandi described as a calculated move to subvert legal norms.
He further contended that the real motive behind the move was to extend Anurag Gupta’s tenure, as he was originally scheduled to retire in April 2025.
Marandi has also filed a contempt petition before the Supreme Court, questioning the constitutional validity of the newly framed rules in light of previous apex court rulings.
Join Us on WhatsApp