Odisha likely to name next DGP by Aug 16; UPSC panel to meet on Thursday

Odisha seems poised to have a new DGP by August 16, as the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is likely to reconvene the Empanelment Committee Meeting (ECM) on Thursday to shortlist three top-ranking IPS officers for the post. The current incumbent, Y B Khurania (IPS:1990:OD), is retiring on August 16.

The ECM is being reconvened after the last meeting, held on Friday, remained inconclusive, and the UPSC deferred its decision on shortlisting candidates for the DGP post.

The development assumes significance as the ECM is going to be held after a PIL petition was filed in the Supreme Court alleging that the Odisha government was trying to circumvent the apex court order on the DGP appointment in the Prakash Singh case by promoting an ADG-rank officer to the rank of DGP and then include his name in the fresh panel to be sent to the UPSC for shortlisting. The petition alleges that the state govt is thus trying to manipulate the inclusion of an ineligible officer in the UPSC panel. 

A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana agreed to hear the PIL petition urgently when it was mentioned before it by senior advocate P Chidambaram on Tuesday.

The row began after the Odisha govt issued a notification on Monday promoting Sanjeeb Panda (IPS:1994:ID) and his batchmate YK Jethwa from the ADG grade to the DG rank in the level-16 pay matrix with immediate effect.

As Panda, currently heading the Anti-Naxal Operations unit, is being considered a leading contender for the post, the timing of his promotion in the midst of the ongoing selection of the next DGP attracted widespread attention.

It is alleged that Panda’s promotion was done so that once the UPSC reconvenes the empanelment meeting, his name features in the senior-most officers’ list.

The state govt had sent a list of 11 senior IPS officers to the UPSC for shortlisting in May itself. The state panel featured three DG-ranked officers, including Fire Services chief Sudhansu Sarangi (IPS:1990:OD) and two 1993-batch officers—RP Koche, serving as Director (Intelligence), and Susanta Nath, currently posted as DG (Prisons).

Panda’s chances are believed to have brightened after the UPSC reportedly received adverse feedback from the CBI against Susanta Kumar Nath in connection with the sub-inspector recruitment scam when he headed the Odisha Police Recruitment Board.

A source says that Panda was earlier at number four in seniority, but with Nath’s exit, he moves up to number three. It is believed that after his promotion to the DGP rank, decks have been cleared for Panda to be appointed as the next DGP.   

With the UPSC panel now set to meet on Thursday, the focus will be on the fresh list sent by the Odisha govt.