Along with Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu too is all set to finally get a permanent DGP soon, as the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has finalised a panel of three top-ranking IPS officers for appointing one of them to the post. It is happening after a long and protracted standoff between the erstwhile DMK government and the UPSC over empanelment of officers.
According to sources, the UPSC has cleared the names of three officers that include Rajiv Kumar (IPS:1992:TN), Sandeep Rai Rathore (IPS:1992:TN), and Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal (IPS:1994:TN) for the post, and one among them would be appointed as the next DGP.
It should be noted here that the revised list sent to the UPSC by the state govt included Seema Agarwal (IPS:1990:TN), who was the senior-most, but she failed to make it to the panel, as she is scheduled to retire in June.
As per the Supreme Court’s guidelines, only officers having a residual service of at least six months could be considered for the DGP post.
Incidentally, Rajeev Kumar has his service tenure until December 2028, and his batchmate and current acting DGP Sandeep Rai Rathore also has service tenure until February 2028.
Interestingly, Shankar Jiwal was the last regular DGP in the state, who retired on August 31, 2025, and since then the state has not had a regular DGP.
The UPSC had recommended a panel of three officers in September last year, but the then DMK govt continued with an ad hoc arrangement.
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