The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Tamil Nadu government why it has appointed an acting DGP instead of a regular one. The court directed the UPSC to quickly recommend names for the permanent post.
A bench led by Chief Justice B R Gavai, with Justices K Vinod Chandran and Atul S Chandurkar, was hearing a contempt petition. The case challenges the appointment of G Venkatraman as acting DGP on August 31.
The bench asked, “Why do you have an acting DGP?” Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, for the state, replied that a case is pending before the CAT. An officer has asked for his name to be included in the selection panel.
The court then requested UPSC to consider the issue without delay. It said once UPSC sends its recommendation, the state must take steps to appoint a regular DGP.
The petition was filed by lawyer Henri Tiphagne. He argued that the appointment of an in-charge DGP violates the 2018 Supreme Court order in the Prakash Singh case.