Uncertainty grows over next Tamil Nadu DGP appointment

With DGP Shankar Jiwal retiring on Aug 31, Tamil Nadu is yet to initiate the Supreme Court-mandated process for selecting the next police chief.

By
LO Bureau
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As the retirement of Tamil Nadu’s Director General of Police (DGP) Shankar Jiwal (IPS:1990:TN) draws near on August 31, growing uncertainty surrounds the appointment of his successor. The State Government has yet to initiate the process prescribed by the Supreme Court for appointing the Head of the Police Force (HoPF), prompting speculation and unease within administrative and police circles.

According to the Prakash Singh case guidelines, the State Government is required to send a list of eligible senior IPS officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) three months prior to the retirement of the incumbent DGP. The UPSC, in turn, shortlists three officers for the State to select from. However, with only weeks remaining for Mr. Jiwal’s retirement, no such panel has reportedly been forwarded to the UPSC.

This delay is unusual for Tamil Nadu, a state known for adhering the apex court’s directives on police leadership appointments. In previous instances, the process was initiated in a timely manner to ensure smooth transitions in top police leadership.

Amid this unusual silence from the government, three possible scenarios are being widely speculated:

  1. Amendment to State Police Act: The State may amend the Tamil Nadu Police Act to facilitate the appointment of a DGP of its own choosing, thereby bypassing the UPSC-led selection mechanism.
  2. Extension for Current DGP: There are murmurs that Shankar Jiwal could be given a three-month extension, subject to the Union Government’s approval, allowing the State more time to decide on a long-term replacement.
  3. Appointment of In-Charge DGP: Alternatively, the government may appoint an “in-charge DGP” or an officer with “full additional charge”, a temporary arrangement that has been used in other states to circumvent the UPSC process.

The apparent inaction has raised questions about whether political considerations—particularly the strained relationship between the State and Central governments—are influencing the delay. With time running out, all eyes remain on Fort St. George to see which path the Tamil Nadu government will choose. (By-Rajeev Singh)

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