What is the row over selecting Head of Police Force in T.N.?, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• Tamil Nadu is facing a controversy over the appointment of a regular Director-General of Police (DGP).
• The state government rejected the panel of three senior DGP-rank officers finalized by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
• G. Venkatraman, a 1994-batch IPS officer, has been appointed as the in-charge DGP.
• Contempt petitions have been filed against Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam for allegedly violating the Supreme Court’s guidelines.

Detailed Insights:

• The Supreme Court in Prakash Singh versus Union of India (2006) mandated that the State Government select the DGP from the three seniormost officers empanelled by the UPSC, based on service length, record, and experience.
• The selected officer must be granted a minimum tenure of two years, irrespective of their date of superannuation; the state should send proposals to the UPSC three months before the DGP's vacancy.
• Tamil Nadu submitted its proposal to the UPSC on August 29, 2025, instead of June, as the then incumbent DGP, Shankar Jiwal, retired on August 30, 2025.
• The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) dismissed an application from an eligible officer seeking inclusion in the panel on April 30, 2025, which delayed the regular appointment.
• The UPSC convened an Empanelment Committee Meeting on September 26, 2025, where Tamil Nadu withdrew the integrity certificate of one officer and expressed unwillingness to empanel three others.
• The Supreme Court has sought the State’s response within three weeks in a case filed against the State for appointing an in-charge DGP and withholding the appointment of a candidate from the panel.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Director-General of Police (DGP): The highest-ranking police officer in a state, responsible for leading and managing the state police force.
• Union Public Service Commission (UPSC): The central recruiting agency in India responsible for conducting examinations and recommending candidates for various civil services.
• Contempt of Court: The offense of disobeying or disrespecting the authority, justice, and dignity of a court.