Uttarakhand’s DGP Abhinav Kumar (IPS:1996:UK) wants a transparent and independent procedure to be adopted for the appointment of police chiefs in the state. He has voiced his concern officially through a communication to the state’s Home Secretary, Shailesh Bagauli (IAS:2002:UK), advocating for the need to reform the State Police Act-2007.
Kumar feels that current appointment processes excessively involve the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the Home Ministry. The Supreme Court had also issued clear guidelines regarding the appointment of regular DGPs by states and had asked the state governments to pass an act for this purpose in the famous Prakash Singh case of 2006.
In his communication, Kumar has stressed the need for ensuring state’s independence in such crucial appointments in alignment with the Supreme Court’s orders.
Virtually Abhinav Kumar wants Uttarakhand to emulate Uttar Pradesh which recently adopted a new appointment policy for the DGPs. According to Kumar, Uttarakhand should enact similarly act to maintain police force integrity and autonomy.
