Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday directed Punjab govt to take an appropriate decision on the appointment of a regular director general of police (DGP), observing that an ad hoc arrangement for the top police post “ought not be allowed for an indefinite period”.A division bench of Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor also directed the state to place before the court an affidavit of the chief secretary, informing it about the decision taken on the appointment. The next hearing is on Oct 13.The bench was hearing a public interest litigation filed by advocate Nikhil Thamman, who appeared in person, alleging that Punjab had failed to appoint a regular DGP despite directions issued by the Supreme Court regarding the selection and minimum tenure of the police chief.The state govt informed the high court that an affidavit had been filed by Punjab under secretary, stating that the issue was also being monitored by the Supreme Court in Prakash Singh and others versus Union of India, pending as Writ Petition (Civil) No. 310 of 1996. The affidavit was taken on record.The HC was also informed that Punjab had filed a compliance affidavit before the Supreme Court, stating that it had, on April 6 forwarded the complete proposal to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for convening the empanelment committee meeting for preparing a panel for the appointment.According to the affidavit, the UPSC empanelment committee subsequently met and, after assessment, recommended a panel of three officers for the post. The affidavit stated that the panel was under the “active consideration” of Punjab govt and that the state was taking steps for the appointment.Thamman told the bench that the UPSC had recommended the panel of three officers in the first week of July 2026. The state counsel, additional advocate general Chanchal K Singhla, submitted the matter was under active consideration.The bench then observed: “In the event a panel has already been forwarded by the Union Public Service Commission in the first week of July 2026, we would like the state of Punjab to clarify as to why no decision is taken in the matter, when the panel is already received way back in July 2026.”The HC observed that the appointment “is of importance for maintenance of the law and order”. “An ad hoc arrangement for such purposes ought not be allowed for an indefinite period,” it observed.The petitioner stated that the post of DGP has continued to be held through an additional-charge arrangement since July 2022. Tetition refers to an order dated July 4, 2022, under which IPS officer Gaurav Yadav was given additional charge of DGP during the leave period of the then incumbent DGP, V K Bhawra. An order dated Sept 2, 2022 continued the arrangement “till further orders”.
