TNR Desk
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will hold a meeting of the screening committee in New Delhi on Wednesday regarding the appointment of the new Himachal Pradesh DGP (Director General of Police).
At the meeting, the panel of three names sent by the Himachal Pradesh government for the post of the next Himachal DGP will be examined. Their eligibility for the post of DGP will be checked. Himachal Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena has also reached Delhi for the meeting.
After the UPSC screening, the state government will decide who should be appointed the next Himachal DGP from the three names sent in the panel. The current Himachal DGP, Sanjay Kundu, is retiring on April 30. The former Jai Ram Thakur government had appointed him as the head of the police department on May 30, 2020, after the retirement of former DGP SR Mardi.
Frontrunner for the post
SR Ojha, a 1989-batch IPS officer, is emerging as the frontrunner for the post. If the state government chooses to go by seniority, it appears highly likely that Ojha will assume the role of Himachal DGP.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s choice too will matter and approval will have to be sought from the Election Commission, as per the requirements of the model election code of conduct.
Ojha recently concluded his central deputation where he served as ADG in the CRPF. Currently serving as DG-Jails, Ojha had assumed additional charge as the DGP for 13 days when Kundu took leave in March. Ojha belongs to the same batch as Kundu and is scheduled to retire in May 2025.
Other contenders
Following Ojha in seniority list is Shyam Bhagat Negi, an IPS officer of the 1990 batch. But he is presently on central deputation, making his return to the state less probable. Officers such as Atul Verma of the 1991 batch and Anurag Garg of the 1993 batch are also in the contention.
Tapan Kumar Deka of the 1988 batch, senior to both Kundu and Ojha, currently serves as the Director of the IB in Delhi. However, having retired last year, he has been granted a one-year extension.
Final decision rest with CM
The decision regarding the new DGP ultimately rests with Chief Minister Sukhu. Despite the customary reshuffling on key posts following a change in power, CM Sukhu retained DGP Kundu, a move that faced internal opposition within the party. When the Congress was in opposition, it had criticised Kundu’s handling of the police constable paper leak but did not remove him upon assuming power.
Due to the upcoming Lok Sabha poll and the Assembly byelections, the post of DGP cannot remain vacant for a long period due to the crucial role of the police in electoral processes. Therefore, the government is expected to expeditiously appoint a new DGP.
