Petition challenges Telangana DGP’s appointment, High Court seeks clarification

Justice Pulla Karthik of the Telangana High Court has sought clarity from the State Government on whether it followed Supreme Court-mandated procedures in appointing senior IPS officer B. Shivadhar Reddy as Director General of Police.

By Legal Correspondent

Hyderabad: Justice Pulla Karthik of the Telangana High Court on Thursday questioned the State Government on whether it had adhered to the Supreme Court-mandated procedure for appointing a Director General of Police.

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The court was hearing a writ petition challenging the appointment of senior IPS officer B. Shivadhar Reddy as DGP and Head of Police Force through G.O. 1339 dated September 26. The petition, moved by advocate and social activist T. Dhangopal Rao, seeks a writ of quo warranto.

He contended that the appointment was made in violation of the Supreme Court’s directions in Prakash Singh v. Union of India, which requires a transparent selection process insulated from executive influence.

Rao appeared in person and argued that the Government had designated Mr. Shivadhar Reddy with Full Additional Charge despite the prohibition on appointing acting DGPs. He relied on an RTI reply from the UPSC to assert that no empanelment committee meeting had been convened for the present vacancy.

Advocate-General A. Sudarshan Reddy opposed the plea and questioned the maintainability of a writ of quo warranto for enforcing compliance with Supreme Court guidelines. He submitted that an empanelled list had earlier been forwarded to the UPSC and that the Commission had sought further clarification from the State.

According to him, if there is any alleged breach of apex court orders, the appropriate course is to seek contempt before the Supreme Court rather than challenge the appointment through a writ. During the hearing, Justice Karthik remarked that the State must clarify whether the directions in Prakash Singh are binding and if the mandatory procedure was followed.

While declining to suspend the appointment at this stage, the court directed the Advocate-General to obtain specific instructions on whether a panel of senior IPS officers was sent to the UPSC for the present appointment. The matter is posted to December 22 for further hearing.