Punjab not in hurry despite SC ruling for action against states with acting DGPs

The recent Supreme Court directive authorizing the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to initiate action against states delaying the appointment of regular DGPs has led Punjab to wait for how other states respond to it. The state govt had appointed IPS officer Gaurav Yadav (IPS:1992:PB) as an acting DGP in July 2022 and is continuing with him in the post without any hurry to initiate the process for the appointment of a regular DGP.

The Bhagwant Mann government is reported to be keenly watching the response and approach of the other states, especially BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, before taking a call on the issue.

According to government sources, the state govt is in no mood to initiate the process for the appointment of a regular DGP until the UPSC formally communicates its response to the Supreme Court’s latest order.

The apex court on February 5 came down heavily on states working with acting DGPs and authorized the UPSC to initiate contempt proceedings against states that fail to submit timely proposals for the appointments of DGPs.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi gave its ruling in a case involving Telangana. The top court fully endorsed the concern expressed by the UPSC regarding the inordinate delay on the part of several states in sending proposals for the appointment of DGPs.

The UPSC told the court that several states keep on delaying sending proposals for the appointment of DGP in total disregard of its directions. These states instead prefer an ad-hoc arrangement by appointing an acting DGP in place of a regular appointment, the top court was told.

The bench granted four weeks to the UPSC to convene a meeting and make a recommendation for the appointment of a regular DGP for Telangana, where the last regular DGP retired in 2017.

The top court virtually asked the UPSC to play a proactive role, as it is empowered to write to states, demanding compliance and flagging delays to the court.

Punjab also happens to be among the key states that are not adhering to the laid-down procedure.

The state government, however, passed a bill proposing an alternative mechanism for appointing the DGP in 2023, but the governor referred the bill to the President. And in the absence of presidential assent, it has not become a law.

Meanwhile, a state govt functionary indicated that if the UPSC adopts a firm stance, Punjab may proceed with sending a panel of eligible officers. Under the present rules, Gaurav Yadav is now likely to figure among the top three of the list.

Currently, only two officers are senior to Yadav—1989-batch IPS officers Sanjeev Kalra and Parag Jain. But Kalra is retiring on February 28, while Jain is serving as RAW chief, effectively ruling both out of contention.

Within the 1992 batch, Sharad Satya Chauhan (retiring March 31, 2028) and Harpreet Singh Sidhu (retiring May 31, 2027) are senior to Yadav, who occupies third place in seniority and is due to retire on April 30, 2029. What goes in Yadav’s favour is the fact that he is the only officer of his batch currently empaneled as DGP at the Centre.