The cloud of uncertainty over the appointment of a regular Director General of Police (DGP) for Uttarakhand finally disappeared on Thursday with the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) sending the panel of three names to the Uttarakhand government for the appointment of a regular DGP. The ball is now in the court of the Uttarakhand government. The state government can now make a choice and announce the appointment soon.
The most remarkable omission from the UPSC’s panel is Abhinav Kumar. A 1996 batch IPS, Kumar has been serving as an acting DGP of the state for the last ten months. According to the Home Department, the UPSC has excluded Abhinav Kumar’s name from its panel on ‘technical ground’. Topping the list, Deepam Seth, a 1995 batch IPS officer emerges as a frontrunner, followed by 1995 batch IPS officer PVK Prasad and Amit Kumar Sinha, an IPS officer of the 1997 batch.
Currently, Deepam Seth is serving at Centre as ADG in Shasatra Seema Bal (SSB) whereas PVK Prasad is the Director of Prosecution and Amit Kumar Sinha is ADG, Administration.
The state government had sent names of seven top IPS officers to the UPSC for scrutiny. Out of those seven names, the UPSC shortlisted three names for the appointment of DGP and has now sent back its panel to the Uttarakhand government.
