Bhubaneswar: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has raised concerns over the appointment of temporary Directors General of Police (DGPs) in seven states, including Odisha, despite the availability of eligible officers for the position. In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretaries of the concerned states, the Union Home Secretary emphasized the directives issued by the Supreme Court regarding the appointment of DGPs, stressing that temporary or “acting DGPs” should only be appointed under exceptional circumstances. The states have been urged to adhere to the apex court’s guidelines and appoint regular DGPs with a tenure of two years.
The Odisha government’s recent appointment of 1990-batch IPS officer Arun Kumar Sarangi as the acting DGP on December 30, 2024, has drawn attention to the issue. Sarangi, currently serving as the special DG of Police and director of Biju Patnaik State Police Academy (BPSPA), was appointed to the position until a regular DGP assumes office, according to a notification issued by the Home Department. This decision was made on the eve of the retirement of the incumbent DGP, Sunil Kumar Bansal, on December 31. Notably, there are seven IPS officers senior to Sarangi in the state.
Sources indicate that the Odisha government opted for the appointment of Sarangi as the acting DGP due to delays in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) convening a meeting to select candidates for the position. As per Supreme Court guidelines, the DGP is appointed by the state government from among the three senior-most officers empanelled for promotion to that rank by the UPSC. However, the UPSC has highlighted challenges in this process, citing incomplete or erroneous proposals received from states.
UPSC Chairman Manoj Soni underscored the Commission’s limited role in the absence of complete and error-free proposals from the states. Issues such as non-submission of proposals or technical errors therein have led to delays and necessitated the return of proposals by the Commission to the concerned states. This ongoing challenge underscores the need for states to streamline the appointment process and adhere to the guidelines set forth by the apex court.
The MHA’s proactive stance on the appointment of DGPs reflects the government’s commitment to upholding governance standards and ensuring the efficient functioning of law enforcement agencies across the country. As discussions continue between the Centre and the states, efforts are underway to address the underlying issues and facilitate the timely appointment of regular DGPs, thereby bolstering the effectiveness of policing and security measures nationwide.
