Delay in Appointment of New West Bengal Police Chief Amid Upcoming Elections

Setback in West Bengal's Police Chief Appointment

The appointment of a new Director General of Police (DGP) in West Bengal has hit a snag as the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has returned the list of proposed officials submitted by the state government, citing procedural delays. An official disclosed this information on Tuesday.

This development comes at a crucial time, with the current DGP, Rajeev Kumar, set to complete his term on January 31, coinciding with the upcoming state assembly elections.

An official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, informed that the state government had suggested a meeting of the 'Empanelment Committee' (ECM) to select the new DGP. However, the UPSC rejected the proposal, pointing to irregularities in the process and delays in submitting the list of names.

In a letter sent to the state's Chief Secretary on December 31, UPSC Director (AIS) Nand Kishore Kumar referenced the Supreme Court's directives from the 2018 Prakash Singh vs. Union of India case, which mandated that all states must submit their proposals to the UPSC at least three months prior to the retirement of the current DGP to ensure a transparent, timely, and merit-based selection process.

According to the UPSC, the vacancy for the DGP position in West Bengal arose after Manoj Malviya's retirement on December 28, 2023, leading to Rajeev Kumar's appointment as the acting DGP.

As per the established rules for DGP appointments, the state government is required to select an officer from the names recommended by the UPSC's Empanelment Committee. Previously, the state government would submit its list to the committee within a specified timeframe.

The official noted that the UPSC has informed the state that due to irregularities in the previous appointment, it cannot appoint anyone as the current DGP. He elaborated that technically, Manoj Malviya remains the last permanent DGP of the state.

The official further stated that since the term of the last permanent DGP ended in December 2023, the list of proposed officials should have been submitted by September of that year.