Supreme Court to Address Allegations Against Odisha Over DGP Appointment
The Supreme Court of India has agreed to urgently hear a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning the State of Odisha’s alleged attempts to sidestep established legal procedures for appointing the Director General of Police (DGP). The PIL asserts that Odisha is including ineligible officers in its selection panel, contrary to the Supreme Court’s past directives.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, has scheduled the hearing for Wednesday. The matter was brought to the court’s attention by Senior Advocate P. Chidambaram, representing the petitioner. He argued that Odisha had initially submitted a panel of officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) but later withdrew it to prepare a new list. The State’s alleged intent is to promote an Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) to the rank of DGP and include the officer in the new panel submitted to the UPSC.
CJI Kant remarked, “They (UPSC) are well aware of who is eligible and who can be considered. If a panel of ineligible officers is being sent, we expect the UPSC to act in accordance with our directions.” This statement underscores the expectation that the UPSC will adhere to the Supreme Court’s guidelines regarding DGP appointments.
Prakash Singh Judgment and Its Impact
The Supreme Court had earlier reiterated in February 2026 that states must comply with the procedures outlined in the landmark Prakash Singh v. Union of India case. This judgment mandates that DGP appointments should be made from a panel of eligible officers prepared by the UPSC.
Under the framework for appointing a DGP, only officers already serving in DGP-level posts are eligible for selection. The court had previously emphasized that states cannot deviate from these eligibility requirements, even if the pool of eligible officers is limited.
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The case arose as the incumbent DGP, YB Khurania, was set to retire on August 31, prompting Odisha to initially send a panel of three officers, later expanding it to include 11 senior IPS officers. The UPSC was scheduled to shortlist three officers on August 7, but Chidambaram claims Odisha withdrew its list just before the meeting.
Chidambaram further contended that the UPSC had indicated it would only consider officers who were already at the DGP level. He expressed concern that Odisha’s actions violated the Supreme Court’s Prakash Singh ruling, leading to the current legal challenge.
CJI Kant reaffirmed the court’s expectations, stating, “We expect the UPSC to adhere to our judgment.” Consequently, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case on August 12, Wednesday.
