Today, On 1st April, The Tripura government informed the Supreme Court that it is complying with the 2006 apex court ruling on police reforms. It stated that the process for appointing a regular Director General of Police (DGP) began on March 7. The update was provided in response to concerns over adherence to established guidelines. This move aims to ensure transparency and efficiency in police leadership appointments.
New Delhi: The Tripura government informed the Supreme Court that it was adhering to the 2006 ruling concerning police reforms and had begun the process for appointing a regular director general of police (DGP) on March 7.
The bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, was reviewing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the NGO MONDRA, represented by its president Bipin Chandra Kalai, which challenged the government’s alleged failure to follow court-mandated procedures regarding the DGP appointment.
In the landmark 2006 ruling in the Prakash Singh case, the Supreme Court recommended various measures, including the separation of investigative and law enforcement duties, and mandated that states consult the Union Public Services Commission (UPSC) before appointing a DGP.
It also stipulated that the selection process should begin well before the existing DGP’s retirement and should be based on seniority, experience, and merit.
The Supreme Court emphasized that instead of appointing an ad-hoc DGP, states should select a regular DGP from a list of three senior IPS officers prepared by the UPSC.
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The plea, filed through advocate Anshuman Singh, highlighted the state’s non-compliance with these judicial directives aimed at ensuring transparency and merit in police leadership appointments.
Senior advocate Vipin Sanghi, representing the NGO, alleged that the state had failed to initiate the DGP appointment process as required by the Supreme Court’s judgment.
However, a counsel for the state government disputed these claims, presenting a sealed letter to the bench and stating that the process for appointing a new DGP had indeed started on March 7. He asserted that the government had been following the 2006 directives as well as subsequent judgments.
The state government noted that the current DGP, Amitabh Ranjan, took office on July 28, 2022, and was set to retire on May 31 this year.
The bench remarked,
“Learned counsel for the respondent (Tripura) has handed over a confidential letter, which will be kept in a sealed cover by the registry of this court. Accordingly, we are not issuing notice in the present petition. However, if there is a violation, the petitioner may file applications for the revival.”
The court recorded the state counsel’s statement regarding the retirement of the incumbent DGP, saying,
“It is submitted that the appointment will be made in the said period. We are taking the statement on record.”
The NGO’s plea alleged the state government’s “disregard” for the Supreme Court’s directives from the Prakash Singh judgment, claiming that the government failed to initiate the required process for appointing a new DGP and did not form a panel of eligible officers or consult the UPSC as mandated.
With the last DGP appointment made in 2022, the petitioner contended that any appointment outside the prescribed procedure “undermines the integrity of the selection process and opens the door to political interference.”
The Supreme Court indicated that it would hear the pleas seeking implementation of its 2006 verdict on police reforms in May.
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