Odisha DGP selection process legal challenge

The Supreme Court of India is reviewing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding the selection process for the Director General of Police (DGP) in Odisha. The legal challenge examines whether the state government complied with the 2006 Prakash Singh judgment guidelines when forwarding eligible IPS officer names to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Initial concerns raised by an amicus curiae and critics focused on a lack of transparency, specifically regarding the promotion of two additional director general-rank officers to the DGP position and the exclusion of IPS officer Sushant Kumar Nath. The withdrawal of Nath’s integrity certificate was a central point of contention, with critics alleging the government did not follow prescribed procedures for his exclusion.

During recent hearings, a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant questioned the state government regarding the specific circumstances under which Nath’s integrity certificate was withdrawn. The court sought clarity on whether the state was effectively treating Nath as an accused by withholding the certificate following a request from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to question him in relation to a sub-inspector recruitment case.

The bench is investigating the timeline of events to determine if the state government was aware of the CBI’s request prior to submitting names to the UPSC. The proceedings continue to address whether last-minute promotions and the inclusion of officers elevated to the DG rank after the initial list submission violate judicial mandates for transparent police appointments.