Tamil Nadu may soon witness the appointment of its second woman Director General of Police (DGP), as senior IPS officer Seema Agrawal (IPS:1990:TN) emerges as the frontrunner for the post — provided the state government adheres to the seniority principle.
If seniority is given primacy in the selection process, Seema Agrawal, who is currently serving as Director General, Fire and Rescue Services, will be the natural choice. She is the senior-most among the eligible officers and could become the second woman to hold the top police post in Tamil Nadu after Letika Saran (IPS:1976:TN), who served as the Head of Police Force (HoPF) from January 2010 to March 2011.
The state government has initiated the selection process for a new HoPF, as the incumbent, Shankar Jiwal (IPS:1990:TN), is set to retire on August 31.
As per the latest Union government guidelines, the state must recommend a panel of names to the UPSC. Eligible officers must hold the rank of DGP in the Level 16 pay matrix, have at least six months of service remaining, and possess a clean service record.
According to the current gradation list and eligibility criteria, the top three officers in line are:
- Seema Agrawal (IPS:1990:TN) – DG, Fire and Rescue Services
- Rajeev Kumar (IPS:1992:TN) – Chief Vigilance Officer, AAVIN
- Sandeep Rai Rathore (IPS:1992:TN) – DG, Training
Sources say these three officers are expected to be shortlisted for empanelment by the UPSC. The final list will be returned to the Tamil Nadu government, which will then appoint one of them as the new HoPF.
With Seema Agrawal leading in seniority and experience, her elevation would mark a significant moment in Tamil Nadu’s police leadership — if the state sticks to precedence.
Also Read: Tamil Nadu govt to appoint new DGP via UPSC panel
Join Us on WhatsApp