Telangana HC defers intervention in DGP selection process

The Telangana High Court has declined to issue immediate directions on a plea challenging the appointment of an in-charge Director General of Police (DGP). The Court noted that the State Government has already initiated the process of appointing a regular DGP, with a UPSC-approved panel under consideration.

By Our Legal Correspondent

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court has refrained from issuing any immediate directions on a plea seeking appointment of a regular Director General of Police (DGP), effectively taking note of the State Government’s stand that the process is already underway.

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Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy, while hearing the writ petition filed by T. Dhangopal Rao, recorded the submissions of Advocate General A. Sudarshan Reddy, who informed the Court that a panel of three senior IPS officers has already been empanelled and forwarded to the competent authority for final selection.

As per the material placed before the Court, a meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary was held on March 11 following directions from the Supreme Court, and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has completed the empanelment process. The file is presently under consideration for appointing a full-time DGP .

The petitioner had strongly challenged the appointment of B. Shivadhar Reddy as in-charge DGP, contending that such an arrangement is contrary to the law laid down in the landmark Prakash Singh judgment, where the Supreme Court made it clear that there is no concept of an “acting” or “in-charge” DGP and mandated appointment from a UPSC-approved panel with fixed tenure.

Despite these concerns, the High Court chose not to intervene at this stage, observing that the selection process is already underway and pending before the competent authority. The matter has been posted for further hearing on April 27.