Hours ahead of the Election Commission of India’s notification for the Lok Sabha elections, the Tamil Nadu government on Sunday promoted five IPS officers to the rank of Director-General of Police.
The move comes amidst uncertainty over the norms for empanelling officers to the post of DGP/Head of Police Force.
With the Supreme Court making it clear that only DGPs with a minimum of two years service left should be considered by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for empanelment to the top post, the State had filed a petition seeking relaxation of the norm, since all DGPs serving in the State had less than two years service.
Though the Supreme Court is yet to pass orders on the petition, the State promoted the 1987-batch of IPS officers, taking the total number of DGPs in the State to an unprecedented 14. In the normal course, a State can have six officers in the rank of DGP, including three in ex-cadre posts.
Sunday orders
Around noon on Sunday, the State issued orders promoting ADGPs Sylendra Babu, Karan Singha, Prateep V. Philip, R.C. Kudawla and Vijay Kumar and upgraded their posts to the DGP rank.
While the Supreme Court guidelines in the Prakash Singh case prescribe a minimum two-year tenure for consideration to the top post, none of the serving DGPs, except Mr. M.K. Jha, who is on Central deputation, have two years service left to be considered by the Union Public Service Commission for empanelment on the retirement of incumbent DGP T.K. Rajendran, in June.
In the event of the Supreme Court accepting the State’s plea to relax the norms, DGPs eligible for empanelment will vary depending on the quantum of minimum service prescribed for consideration.
With the election schedule having been announced on Sunday evening, the State is expected to post an officer as DGP (Elections) and a few others to assist him/her in consultation with the Election Commission, since the model code of conduct has come into effect.
Recent transfers
The State has transferred P. Rajan, Superintendent of Police, Organised Crime Intelligence Unit, Chennai, and posted him as SP, Dharmapuri, in the place of D. Mahesh Kumar, who was posted as SP, OCIU, Chennai.
