The race to the top post of Tamil Nadu police has begun with the incumbent Director-General of Police (Intelligence) T.K. Rajendran, who is holding additional charge as DGP (Law and Order) set to retire from service on June 30, 2017.
If Mr. Rajendran is posted as a regular DGP (Law and Order) before his retirement, then he would hold the post for two years as per a Supreme Court verdict favouring a fixed tenure for the top job. Tamil Nadu has a precedent of appointing regular DGPs days ahead of their retirement, thereby extending the benefit of a fixed tenure.
Sources in the police headquarters said a panel comprising names of five DGPs has been sent to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for approval.
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Once the names are cleared, the State Government can post one of the officers to the top post.
Those in the panel of DGPs by order of seniority are Archana Ramasundaram, presently heading the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) in New Delhi, K. Radhakrishnan, K.P. Maghendran, S. George and Mr. Rajendran.
Former DGP K. Ramanujam was the first IPS officer in the State who got the benefit of the Supreme Court guidelines after he was appointed as Head of the Force days ahead of his retirement. Former DGP Ashok Kumar was also appointed as regular DGP and given a two-year tenure but he opted for voluntary retirement from service on personal grounds.
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In the current panel, only Mr. Maghendran has more than one year in service while Mr. Radhakrishnan is due for retirement on July 31. Ms. Ramasundaram and Mr. George will attain superannuation in September.
Rajendran frontrunner
However, informed sources in the State government said Mr. Rajendran might be appointed as a regular DGP/Head of the Force considering his experience in significant posts in the past. Besides serving in the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Mr. Rajendran, a 1984-batch IPS officer, as Additional Director-General of Police, served in the Law & Order, Intelligence and Administration wings that are considered significant posts. He also served as Commissioner of Police, Chennai, on two occasions.
Mr. George, who had three innings as Chennai Police Commissioner in the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) regime, is also a strong contender for the top post. The appointment of a regular DGP is expected to come along with promotion to the 1985 batch that comprises S.R. Jangid, J.K. Tripathy and C.K. Gandhi Rajan, sources added.