UPSC tells Bengal Govt to approach SC over DGP panel

KOLKATA: Returning the proposal of the West Bengal government for preparation of a panel for appointment to the post of Director General of Police (DGP), the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has advised the state to seek appropriate directions from the Supreme Court in the matter.

This is significant as the present DGP Rajeev Kumar will retire on January 31 and assembly elections in Bengal are likely to be held around April.

The UPSC has cited a delay by the West Bengal government in the letter and asked the state to approach the Supreme Court over the issue.


In a two-page letter sent to the Chief Secretary and the then Home Secretary Nandini Chakraborty (now Chief Secretary) on December 31, the UPSC referred to the landmark Prakash Singh vs Union of India case. It also pointed out that an apex court order dated July 3, 2018, which says that the states must send DGP appointment proposals to the UPSC at least three months before the incumbent's retirement.

In the letter, it has been pointed out that "the State Government submitted the proposal in July 2025, long after the prescribed timeline with a delay of more than one and half years.