Tamil Nadu sends fresh panel to UPSC for DGP appointment
Chennai – The Tamil Nadu government has moved ahead with the appointment of a new Director General of Police DGP. The state has sent a fresh panel of 10 senior IPS officers to the Union Public Service Commission. This step follows a recent Supreme Court order. It also follows a communication from UPSC that sought a revised list of eligible officers.
Top sources confirmed the development. They said the government acted in compliance with judicial directions. As a result, officials prepared a new panel and forwarded it to UPSC for consideration.
Sources added that four officers currently lead the list. These names carry strong prospects for shortlisting. The officers include Rajeev Kumar of the 1992 batch, Sandeep Rai Rathore of the 1992 batch, Mahesh Agarwal of the 1994 batch, and G Venkataram of the 1994 batch. The interim DGP also features among the frontrunners.
Meanwhile, the revised list reflects a key change. The government removed Seema Agarwal’s name from the panel. Sources said tenure constraints led to this decision. She is due to retire in June this year. Therefore, officials excluded her from the fresh list to comply with service norms.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had stressed adherence to established guidelines in DGP appointments. The court had directed states to send a panel of eligible officers to UPSC. The commission then evaluates the names and prepares a shortlist for final selection.
Now, UPSC is expected to convene a selection meeting soon. Officials anticipate movement on the file in the coming weeks. The state government, meanwhile, awaits the commission’s response.
This development marks a crucial step in filling the top police post in Tamil Nadu. The final decision will shape the leadership of the state police force in the months ahead.
