Thiruvananthapuram: The retirement of Director General of Kerala Fire and Rescue Services Nitin Agrawal (IPS:1989:KL) on Friday (July 31, 2026) has created a vacancy in the DGP rank. But filling the post may not be easy.
The two senior-most contenders are facing separate issues.
ADGP MR Ajith Kumar (IPS:1995:KL) was widely seen as the frontrunner. His chances took a hit after the Kerala government placed him under suspension pending disciplinary proceedings.
The proceedings relate to allegations that he tried to interfere with the investigation into the alleged assault on Youth Congress workers during the Nava Kerala Sadas outreach programme in Alappuzha in 2023.
The focus then shifted to ADGP S Sreejith (IPS:1996:KL), who is serving as ADGP, Prisons and Correctional Services. His prospects have also come under a cloud.
The Kerala High Court recently quashed the clean chit given to Sreejith in a complaint alleging that he travelled abroad without obtaining prior government permission. The court also set aside the inquiry report that had cleared him of the allegations.
The developments have complicated the promotion process at a time when the state has to fill the DGP-rank vacancy.
Earlier, a screening committee had recommended S Suresh and MR Ajith Kumar, both 1995-batch IPS officers, for promotion to the DGP rank.
S Suresh is now serving on Central deputation as Additional Director General (ADG) in the Special Protection Group (SPG). He is not expected to return to the Kerala cadre before January 2027.
That had made Ajith Kumar the likely choice before his suspension.
Under the service rules, if the senior-most eligible officer is unavailable or found ineligible, the promotion can go to the next officer in the seniority list.
The developments involving the two leading contenders have, however, made the succession process less straightforward.
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