The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday underscored the need for strict compliance with pre-appointment procedures to ensure independence and transparency in the selection of the next Director General of Police (DGP) of Tamil Nadu.
A Division Bench comprising Justice S.M. Subramaniam and Justice G. Arul Murugan noted that the process for appointing a DGP is firmly guided by Supreme Court directives, subsequent UPSC guidelines, and the single-window empanelment system. The court stressed that empanelment of eligible IPS officers must be carried out in strict alignment with these established norms.
The Bench also acknowledged that a similar petition had been filed before the Principal Seat in Chennai, where a Coordinate Bench dismissed it as premature, as the appointment had not yet been made. Concurring with that view, the Madurai Bench reiterated that all pre-appointment protocols must be followed without deviation.
Additional Advocate General M. Ajmal Khan, representing the State, informed the court that the selection process was already in progress. In light of this, the Bench declined further interference and disposed of the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by K. Yasar Arafath of Paramakudi, Ramanathapuram district.
The petitioner had sought directions to the Central and State governments to initiate the empanelment of eligible IPS officers in accordance with the Supreme Court’s ruling in Prakash Singh vs. Union of India. The move comes as the incumbent DGP, Shankar Jiwal, prepares to retire on August 31, 2025.
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