Supreme Court to hear Odisha DGP selection petition

The Supreme Court of India is scheduled to hear a petition regarding the selection process for the Director General of Police (DGP) in Odisha. A three-judge bench will review a public interest litigation alleging that the state government failed to comply with the 2006 Prakash Singh judgment concerning DGP appointments.

An amicus curiae has raised concerns regarding a lack of transparency in the selection process and questioned the promotion of two additional director general-rank officers to the DGP position. Furthermore, former Intelligence Bureau official Yashvardhan Jha Azad has expressed concerns that deviations from established judicial procedures in Odisha could set a precedent for other states.

The controversy includes the recent withdrawal of the integrity certificate for IPS officer Sushant Kumar Nath, which removed him from consideration for the post. Critics allege the government did not follow prescribed procedures when citing potential questioning of Nath in connection with a future examination as the reason for his exclusion.