HC directs UPSC to complete process of selecting DGP within four weeks

Justice Pulla Karthik of Telangana High Court on Friday dismissed an interlocutory application seeking suspension of Government Order Rt. no. 1339 appointing IPS officer B. Shivadhar Reddy as State police chief.

The IA was part of a writ petition filed by a social activist T. Dhangopal Rao challenging the appointment of Mr. Shivadhar Reddy as DGP. The judge, while dismissing the IA, directed the Union Public Service Commission to complete the process of appointing the DGP (Head of Police Force) for Telangana within four weeks.

Earlier, the government on January 1 had sent the panel of IPS officers of Telangana eligible for appointment as DGP (HoPF). The Commission had, however, sent it back to the government stating that it cannot be considered in the backdrop of the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in Prakash Singh vs Union of India case.

When the matter came up for hearing on Friday, the judge directed the UPSC to complete the process and file the compliance report within four weeks. The hearing was adjourned to February 5.