Supreme Court asks UPSC, T.N. to consider names for regular DGP ‘expeditiously’

Tamil Nadu government on Monday (September 8, 2025) informed the Supreme Court that names shortlisted for appointment as regular Director General Police/Head of Police Force have already been sent to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for consideration.

The State briefed the court in response to a petition seeking contempt action against the State of Tamil Nadu for appointing G. Venkatraman as the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP)/Head of Police Force in-charge on August 31.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai directed the UPSC and the State to consider the names and make the appointment of regular DGP expeditiously.

Senior advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan and advocate Prasanna S., appearing for Madurai-based lawyer and petitioner, Henri Tiphagne, urged the court to put the UPSC and the State on a clock. Ms. Ramakrishnan requested the court to direct the UPSC and the State to complete the process of appointment of regular DGP for Tamil Nadu in a month.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, for the State, said the UPSC was a constitutional body and knew its responsibilities. The court did not agree to Ms. Ramakrishnan’s request.

The petition submitted that Mr. Venkatraman’s appointment as ad hoc DGP was in violation of 2018 Supreme Court decision in the Prakash Singh case.

The plea had submitted that the 2018 judgment required a State to send a proposal in anticipation of vacancy to DGP post to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) at least three months prior to the date of retirement of the incumbent.

“However, the State of Tamil Nadu till date has not sent such proposal to UPSC within the timeframe of three months prior for empanelment,” the petition said.

Further, it had contended that the apex court had specifically directed that “none of the States shall ever conceive of the idea of appointing any person to the post of Director General of Police on an acting basis”.

“However, contrary to the direction, the State of Tamil Nadu vide Police Note No. SC/19/2025 of August 31, 2025 has appointed G. Venkatraman IPS to be in-charge of the post of Director General of Police/Head of Police Force, Tamil Nadu, on the retirement of Shankar Jiwal IPS. This is a clear and deliberate act of the state in violation of the court order,” the petition had noted.