About:
- The Director General of Police (DGP) is a three-star rank and the highest-ranking police officer in States. The DGP is the head of the state police force.
- All DGPs are Indian Police Service (IPS) officers.
2006 guidelines:
- In its 2006 judgment in Prakash Singh vs Union of India, the SC laid down guidelines for appointment and removal of the DGP.
- Selection: DGP of the State shall be selected by the State Government from amongst the three senior most officers of the department who have been recommended by UPSC.
- Tenure: Once selected for the job, he should have a minimum tenure of at least 2 years irrespective of his date of superannuation.
- Removal: The DGP can be removed by the State government in consultation with the State Security Commission consequent upon any action taken against him under the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules or following his conviction in a court of law in a criminal offence or in a case of corruption, or if he is otherwise incapacitated from discharging his duties”.
2018 guidelines:
- In July 2018, the SC laid down further guidelines for the appointment of a DGP by the States.
- It declared that no state government can appoint their favourite police officer suiting their political choice as the acting DGP. The concept of an acting DGP was not considered in the 2006 judgement on police reforms.
- To prevent this, the court directed all the states to send their proposals to the UPSC at least three months prior to the date of retirement of the DGP.
- It also said that that an endeavour has to be made to ensure that the person appointed as DGP continues despite his date of superannuation but not beyond a reasonable period.
Recent supreme court verdict:
- A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said the recommendation for post of DGP by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and preparation of the panel should be purely on the basis of merit.
- It said that officers having a minimum of 6 months tenure left in service can be considered for the post of Director General of Police (DGP).
- The apex court passed the verdict on a modification plea filed by former Uttar Pradesh DGP Prakash Singh. Singh had alleged that the July 3, 2018, directive was being misused by state governments who were ignoring competent senior officers for appointment as DGPs.
