The fate of UP’s acting DGP Prashant Kumar is hanging in delicate balance and next three days are going to prove as the most crucial days for his illustrious career. The reason is simple: despite framing the new rules for the appointment of a regular DGP suspense continues over his confirmation as the permanent DGP of the state.
Prashant Kumar took over as an acting DGP about nine months back and was supposed to be confirmed as the regular DGP. But as the situation prevails today, it will be difficult for him to become a permanent DGP if the process is not completed in the next 3 days.
The Yogi government talked about the selection committee for the appointment of DGP, but it is yet to be constituted. It is pertinent to remind here that, according to the new rule, there should be at least 6 months of service left for an IPS officer to become a permanent DGP in the state. Prashant Kumar’s retirement is 31 May 2025. It means if he is not appointed as a regular DGP by November 30, then he will be out of the race for ever.
Therefore, what is needed to be done is to constitute a committee within 3 days and hold a meeting so that he is appointed as regular DGP by November 30.
A 1990 batch IPS officer, Prashant Kumar has an illustrious career with more than 300 encounters have been done under his leadership and the fact that CM Yogi had bypassed 18 senior IPS officers to catapult him to acting DGP’s post.
The question that is bothering all is after all what is coming in the way after passing the new rules that is hindering his confirmation as a regular DGP.
The state has seen four acting DGPs during the last two years. Even the Supreme Court had directed the state government to appoint permanent DGP instead of the acting one.
It reeks of utter negligence on the part of the state government that despite the new rules having been passed by the Cabinet on November 5, the rules have not been made public nor a committee has been formed so far. Thus, fate of Prashant Kumar hangs in delicate balance.