New Delhi: The appointment of the next Odisha DGP faces uncertainty after the Supreme Court PIL challenging the selection process was not listed on Wednesday (August 12, 2026), despite the CJI-led bench indicating on Tuesday that the matter would be listed the next day.
The PIL was mentioned by senior advocate P Chidambaram before a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana. It alleges that the Odisha Government is attempting to circumvent the Supreme Court’s Prakash Singh guidelines by promoting ADG-rank officers to DGP rank and then including them in the UPSC panel.
Under the Supreme Court guidelines, the State DGP must be selected from among the three senior-most officers empanelled by the UPSC, based on factors including length of service, service record and experience in heading the police force.
The petition alleges that Odisha initially sent Sudhansu Sarangi (IPS:1990:OD), R P Koche and Susanta Nath (both IPS:1993:OD) to the UPSC, but later expanded the panel by adding eight ADG-rank officers. After the UPSC reportedly insisted on considering eligible DGP-rank officers, the State withdrew the panel and subsequently promoted Sanjeeb Panda and Yeshwant Kumar Jethwa (both IPS:1994:OD) to DGP rank.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the bench noted that the UPSC is fully aware of the Supreme Court’s earlier orders and is expected to ensure compliance. Chief Justice Surya Kant observed: “If a panel of ineligible officers is being sent, we expect the UPSC to act in accordance with our directions.”
The Supreme Court has not stayed the DGP selection process. The PIL is now expected to be mentioned again for urgent listing, reportedly on August 18.
Meanwhile, the UPSC Empanelment Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday (August 13) to consider a three-member panel for the Odisha Government. The development assumes significance as incumbent DGP Y B Khurania (IPS:1990:OD) is due to retire on August 16.
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