Now Reading: Supreme Court halts Odisha DGP selection, warns against backdoor entry
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Supreme Court halts Odisha DGP selection, warns against backdoor entry
The Supreme Court on Thursday restrained the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) from finalising the appointment of Odisha's next Director General of Police (DGP) until August 18. The Court warned that any…
The Story in Brief
The Supreme Court on Thursday restrained the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) from finalising the appointment of Odisha's next Director General of Police (DGP) until August 18. The Court warned that any attempt at a 'backdoor entry' into the top police post would not be tolerated.
Senior advocate P Chidambaram, appearing for a petitioner, alleged that the Odisha government had withdrawn an earlier panel of eligible officers and promoted an Additional DGP overnight to include a junior officer in a fresh list. The UPSC assured the court it would not convene the selection meeting until the next hearing. The matter stems from alleged violations of the Supreme Court's 2006 Prakash Singh judgment, which mandates selection from the three senior-most officers empanelled by the UPSC.
The Indian Opinion
The Odisha government's sudden promotion of a junior officer just before the UPSC meeting feeds the narrative that states routinely try to outsmart the Supreme Court. The Prakash Singh judgment exists precisely to insulate police chiefs from political interference. Neither side benefits from theatrics. The August 18 hearing must now settle whether this promotion was a routine career progression or a calculated end-run around the law.
Sources (2): deccanherald.com, thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
