Bhubaneswar: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has reportedly shortlisted three eligible officers – Pradeep Kapur, Sunil Kumar Bansal, Manoj Chhabra – from among aspirants for the next Director General of Police (DGP) of Odisha.
It is now for the state government to pick one among the trio for the post. With the current incumbent Abhay due to retire on December 31, the name of the next DGP is likely to be announced soon.
Abhay’s batchmate and 1986-batch IPS officer Kapur is currently Advisor (Scientific) of the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) in Delhi. He is due to retire in November 2022.
Bansal is Special Director of Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB) in Mumbai. This 1987-batch officer is due to superannuate in June 2022. His appointment as Odisha DGP, however, seems bleak as he has been away from Odisha for almost 16 years on central deputation.
Chhabra, a 1988-batch officer, has served across the Maoist-hit districts of the state. He has also served in the BSF and has hands-on experience in combating the ultras while on central deputation. Chhabra was promoted to ADG rank in 2013 and is currently serving as Special DGP, Special Armed Police (SAP). His service period will end in October 2023.
Last month, the state government issued a notification, allowing Abhay to retire from service on December 31. He assumed charge on December 9, 2019. His retirement was extended by six months to meet a Supreme Court directive of a minimum period of two years of service for a DGP. Abhay is the first Odisha DGP, who discharged his duty for two full years as stipulated by the apex court.
SC VERDICT
In 2006, the top court passed the landmark Prakash Singh judgment, which stated that the DGP will be appointed by the state government from officers empanelled by the UPSC.
The UPSC is required to make the selection on the basis of the candidate’s length of service, service record and range of experience. It said that once selected, they should have a minimum tenure of at least two years, irrespective of the age of superannuation.
