A new twist has been added to the ongoing confrontation between the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the Tamil Nadu government over the appointment of a new DGP for the state. The UPSC has turned down the government’s objections over the names of three DGP-rank officers shortlisted by the UPSC for the post. The government had said in its representation that the names shortlisted by the UPSC were not acceptable to the State, but the UPSC has refused to budge.
In its communication to the state government, the UPSC has reiterated its decision on the panel of shortlisted candidates for appointment as DGP.
The post of a regular DGP has been lying vacant ever since Shankar Jiwal (IPS:1990:TN) retired on August 30, 2025. The state government failed to submit its proposal comprising the names of eligible DGP-rank officers to the top post and, in the meantime, appointed G Venkatraman (IPS:1994:TN) as DGP in-charge. It prompted a Madurai-based advocate to file a contempt petition in the apex court alleging the violation of the Supreme Court guidelines in the Prakash Singh case (for appointing a regular DGP) by the state government. The top court directed the UPSC to expeditiously complete the process of empanelment to appoint a regular DGP.
Following the apex court’s direction, the UPSC convened the Empanelment Committee meeting on September 26, 2025, and recommended the names of the top three officers (Seema Agrawal, Rajeev Kumar, and Sandeep Rai Rathore) for the post. However, the state government raised objection over the panel of shortlisted officers, saying it was unacceptable to the state government. Even the State Law Minister S. Reghupathy issued a statement recently, accusing the Centre of trying to appoint an officer of its choice as DGP. But the UPSC has now shot back a letter clearly refusing to entertain the government’s objection.
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