UPSC asked to finalise Tamil Nadu DGP panel at the earliest, says SC
The Supreme Court has directed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to quickly send its recommendations for the appointment of a regular Director General of Police (DGP) in Tamil Nadu.
A Bench led by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, along with Justices K Vinod Chandran and Atul S Chandurkar, ordered that the State must immediately appoint a DGP once the UPSC panel is finalised.
The Court was hearing a contempt petition filed by human rights lawyer Henri Tiphagne, who complained that Tamil Nadu was still functioning with only an acting DGP, in violation of earlier Supreme Court rulings on police reforms.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the State, explained that the delay happened because one IPS officer had challenged his exclusion from the list of eligible officers before the Central Administrative Tribunal. After his case was dismissed there and again by the Supreme Court on August 22, the process could now move forward.
The Court reminded that in its landmark judgment in Prakash Singh v. Union of India, it had made it clear that States cannot appoint “acting DGPs.” Instead, they must send proposals to the UPSC at least three months before the serving DGP retires, and the State can only choose from the panel prepared by UPSC. The idea is to ensure stability, seniority, and merit in police leadership.
Although the Court did not decide on the contempt petition itself, it reiterated the importance of following the Prakash Singh guidelines without delay.
