The Telangana High Court on Wednesday (December 24, 2025) declined to interfere with the appointment of B Shivadhar Reddy (IPS:1994:TG) as the State Director General of Police, but directed the state government to complete the remaining statutory process within a fixed timeline.
While refusing to set aside the appointment, the court instructed the Telangana government to forward a panel of eligible IPS officers to the Union Public Service Commission within two weeks and submit a compliance report. The court also made it clear that the selection of the state police chief must strictly follow the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court.
The directions were issued during the hearing of a petition filed by Hyderabad-based social activist T Madhan Gopal Rao, who had challenged the September orders appointing Shivadhar Reddy as DGP. The petitioner contended that the state government failed to adhere to the Supreme Court’s 2018 directives governing the appointment of police chiefs.
According to the petitioner, the government was required to initiate the process by sending details to the UPSC at least three months before the retirement of the outgoing DGP. He further alleged that no panel of eligible officers was forwarded to the UPSC, effectively delaying the process of making a regular appointment to the post.
After hearing the matter on multiple occasions, the High Court chose not to annul the appointment but underscored that procedural compliance could not be overlooked. The court directed the state to submit its counter only after forwarding the panel to the UPSC.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on January 20.
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