Four senior IPS officers are being considered for the coveted DGP post after the government on Thursday rejected incumbent DGP V. Dinesh Reddy’s representation seeking extension of service.
Among the IPS officers eligible for top job, Umesh Kumar -- who has professional rivalry with Mr. Reddy and facing a criminal case -- is the senior most belonging to the 1977 IPS batch. Official sources said the government would not consider Mr. Umesh Kumar for the post as he was facing charges.
While all the IPS officers of 1978 batch had retired, there are five IPS officers of the 1979 batch eligible for the post. Of them, Ashok Prasad is presently DGP of Jammu and Kashmir. T.P. Das, Aruna Bahuguna, B. Prasada Rao and Syed Anwarul Huda of the same batch are also eligible.
While Ms. Bahuguna is on deputation with the Centre, Mr. Das and Mr. Rao are currently holding the posts of Home Secretary and Anti-Corruption Bureau Director General, respectively.
It is said that Mr. Rao has emerged as the front runner for the post as he is non-controversial and has held key posts in the State Police in addition to having experience of working as the Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of APSRTC. “The possibility of the government considering the names of K. Durga Prasad, A.K. Khan, Vivek Dubey and J.V. Ramudu cannot be ruled out as on some occasions earlier junior officers were selected for the top post,” said an official.
However, the process of finalisation of the name for the DGP post would begin only after the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) disposes of the fresh petition filed by Mr. Dinesh Reddy challenging rejection of his representation seeking extension of tenure, he added.
