New Delhi, October 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Centre has approached the Supreme Court over the appointment of the Director General of Police (DGP) in Jharkhand, alleging that the state government did not comply with the top court’s directions while framing its rules for appointing the police chief in 2025.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, mentioned the matter before a Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant on Wednesday. The matter is scheduled to be heard next on October 9.
The Centre has sought directions to the Jharkhand government to follow the Supreme Court’s earlier directives governing DGP appointments. It has also sought a declaration that appointments made under the state’s 2025 rules are illegal.
According to the Centre, the Jharkhand government notified the Jharkhand Director General and Inspector General of Police (Head of Police Force) Selection and Appointment Rules, 2025, on January 8, 2025.
The Centre contended that the rules were framed without complying with directions issued by the Supreme Court in the Prakash Singh vs Union of India case through orders dated September 22, 2006, July 3, 2018, January 16, 2019 and March 13, 2019.
Under the Supreme Court’s July 3, 2018 directions, state governments are required to forward a list of eligible officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) at least three months before the incumbent DGP’s retirement. The UPSC then prepares a panel from which the state government is required to appoint the DGP.
The Centre alleged that Jharkhand neither followed this process nor obtained permission from the Supreme Court before framing the 2025 rules.
The petition stated that IPS officer Anurag Gupta was appointed Jharkhand DGP for a two-year term on February 2, 2025, despite having only around three months of service remaining before his scheduled retirement on April 30, 2025.
The Union Home Ministry raised objections to the appointment through letters dated April 22, May 3 and May 23, 2025. Subsequently, the Jharkhand government approved Gupta’s request for voluntary retirement on November 6, 2025.
On December 29, 2025, the state amended the 2025 rules and removed the requirement that a DGP should have at least six months of service remaining before retirement.
A day later, on December 30, Tadasha Mishra was appointed DGP despite being scheduled to retire on December 31, 2025. The Centre also objected to this appointment.
In January 2026, the Union Home Ministry wrote to the Jharkhand government seeking withdrawal of the 2025 rules and cancellation of Mishra’s appointment. It also urged the state to initiate the DGP selection process in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directions.
In May 2026, the Supreme Court took cognisance of the issue concerning the appointment of a regular DGP in Jharkhand and sought a compliance affidavit from the state government. The court also asked why the proposal for appointment had not been forwarded to the UPSC as required under its directions.
The Centre’s latest application challenges the 2025 appointment rules as well as the appointments made under them.
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