‘Do not appoint police officers as acting DGP’ SC orders States, union Territories

New Delhi: The Apex Court has today passed orders to all police reforms in states and union territories in India asking them not to appoint any police officer as acting Director General of Police (DGP).

The bench headed by CJI Dipak Misra, A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud also ordered all states to send in the names of senior Police officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for being considered or appointed as DGPs or Police Commissioners, TOI reported.

Following which the UPSC will prepare a list of three most suitable officers for the states to appoint as the Police Chief and only those candidates should be selected who still have a reasonable period of service left said the bench.

The apex court also ruled that any rule or state law on the subject of appointment of police officers “will be kept at abeyance.”

The bench’s directions came after the Centre sought modification of the judgment plea in the Prakash Singh case on police reforms.