The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has questioned why the Punjab government continues to have an officiating state police chief for more than eight months. A letter from the MHA to the state government also questioned why a panel of eligible officers had not been sent to the UPSC to allow for the regular posting of a Director General of Police as the state’s police chief.
As per the norms, the state can post an officiating DGP only for a maximum period of six months. The incumbent DGP, Gaurav Yadav (IPS:1992:PB), was posted officiating DGP on July 5 last year and he completed six months on the post on January 5.
Yadav was appointed as officiating DGP after the then DGP Viresh Kumar Bhawra was sent on two months’ leave. Bhawra had been given the top post in January last year. In September, however, a day before his leave was to end, Bhawra was removed by the state government citing the deteriorating law and order situation, and posted as Chairman of Punjab Police Housing Corporation, paving way for Yadav to continue on the post.
