The appointment of B Shivadhar Reddy (IPS:1994:TG) as Director General of Police and Head of Police Force of Telangana has come under judicial scrutiny, with a petition challenging the process being heard by the Telangana High Court on Thursday (December 18).
The petition was filed by social activist T Dhangopal Rao. He said the appointment violated the Supreme Court’s directions in the Prakash Singh vs Union of India case. The Supreme Court had said that a DGP should not be appointed on an acting basis and that states must send a panel of eligible officers to the UPSC at least three months before the retirement of the outgoing DGP.
The petitioner said information received under the RTI Act showed that the UPSC did not hold any empanelment committee meeting before Shivadhar Reddy’s appointment. He also alleged that the Telangana government did not send the required list of eligible IPS officers to the UPSC. He sought a writ of quo warranto to cancel the appointment.
The Advocate General A. Sudharshan Reddy, appearing for the state, told the court that a panel had been sent to the UPSC. He said the Commission had asked the state for some clarifications. He also argued that a writ of quo warranto could not be used in this case and said any violation of Supreme Court directions should be dealt with through contempt proceedings.
After hearing both sides, the High Court said compliance with the Supreme Court’s directions was mandatory. The court did not pass any interim order. It asked the Advocate General to give clear written instructions on whether a panel of senior IPS officers had been sent to the UPSC.
The case will be heard again on December 22.
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