Telangana DGP appointment case: High Court to deliver order on Friday

The Telangana High Court will deliver orders on Friday in a writ petition challenging the appointment of DGP Shivadhar Reddy. Petitioner T. Dhangopal Rao alleged the appointment violated Supreme Court guidelines as the list of senior IPS officers was not forwarded to the UPSC.

By Legal Correspondent

Hyderabad: Justice Pulla Karthik of the Telangana High Court on Thursday said that orders would be passed on Friday in the writ petition challenging the appointment of Director General of Police (DGP) Shivadhar Reddy.

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The petition was filed by T. Dhangopal Rao, who contended that the appointment of the DGP was made in violation of the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court of India. The petitioner alleged that the list of senior IPS officers was not forwarded to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC ) and that the appointment was made on a temporary basis, rendering it invalid.

During the hearing, Advocate General Sudarshan Reddy, appearing for the State government, submitted that the State had recently forwarded the list of senior IPS officers to the Union Public Service Commission in compliance with the directions issued by the High Court.

However, he said the Commission returned the list citing delay, and alleged that the UPSC had failed to comply with the orders of the High Court to take an appropriate decision on the proposals sent by the State.

The Advocate General further pointed out that neighbouring Andhra Pradesh had sent proposals for the appointment of a DGP after a delay of nearly 11 years, which were nevertheless accepted by the UPSC. He submitted that since 2014, the Andhra Pradesh government had not sent original proposals for the appointment of DGP, yet appointments were made. Therefore, the issue of delay, he argued, could not be applied selectively to Telangana.

He urged the Court to direct the UPSC to examine the list of senior IPS officers submitted by the State. Opposing the submissions, Advocate Ajay Kumar, appearing for the UPSC, contended that the list for appointment of the DGP was sent after an inordinate delay of seven years.

He submitted that the Commission had obtained legal opinion from the Attorney General on the applicability of the Supreme Court guidelines governing the appointment of DGPs. Acting on that legal advice, the UPSC returned the list submitted by the State.

He further argued that it was for the Telangana government to seek clarification from the Supreme Court on the issue of appointment of the DGP. After hearing the arguments of both sides, Justice Pulla Karthik adjourned the matter to Friday, stating that further orders would be passed.