Punjab DGP Race Intensifies: Bhagwant Mann Govt Sends 14 IPS Officers’ Panel to UPSC After Supreme Court Push
In a major administrative development, the Punjab government led by Bhagwant Mann has finally initiated the long-pending process of appointing a regular Director General of Police (DGP) by forwarding a panel of 14 senior IPS officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
This move comes nearly four years after Punjab has been functioning under acting police chiefs, and follows strong intervention by the Supreme Court of India, which recently pulled up states for delaying regular DGP appointments.
Supreme Court Pressure Forces Action
The process gained urgency after the apex court, during hearings in February, reiterated strict compliance with police reforms laid down in the landmark Prakash Singh case.
The court made it clear that states cannot continue with ad hoc or acting DGP arrangements and must follow the UPSC-led selection mechanism.
Following this, UPSC had formally asked Punjab on February 18 to submit its proposal within 10 days. After the state missed the deadline, a reminder was issued. Eventually, under judicial pressure, Punjab sent the panel, setting the stage for the long-awaited appointment.
Delay Linked to Punjab Police Amendment Bill
Punjab had earlier delayed the process citing the pending Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which proposed a state-controlled mechanism for selecting the DGP.
The bill aimed to:
Create a seven-member state selection committee
Reduce the role of UPSC
Allow selection from within the state framework
However, the Supreme Court rejected this argument on March 12, stating that until such legal changes receive full approval, the existing UPSC-guided process remains binding.
Gaurav Yadav Among Key Contenders
Among the 14 officers in the panel, Gaurav Yadav, a 1992-batch IPS officer, is considered a strong contender. He has been serving as Punjab’s acting DGP since July 2022.
Since Yadav himself is in the race, UPSC has allowed a procedural adjustment—replacing the DGP’s role in the empanelment committee with the state Home Secretary to avoid conflict of interest.
Under the standard selection process, the committee includes:
Chief Secretary of the state
Serving DGP (or replacement in this case)
UPSC representatives
UPSC will now shortlist three officers from the panel, from which the Punjab government will make the final selection.
As per Supreme Court guidelines, the selected officer will be given a minimum fixed tenure of two years, irrespective of their retirement date.
Why Punjab Operated Without Regular DGP for Years
Punjab’s DGP appointment has seen prolonged delays and political-administrative transitions.
In January 2022, Viresh Kumar Bhawra was appointed as regular DGP through the UPSC process by the government led by Charanjit Singh Channi.
However, after the change in government, the Aam Aadmi Party administration appointed Gaurav Yadav as acting DGP in July 2022, superseding several senior officers.
Since then, no regular appointment was made, leading to nearly four years of functioning under interim arrangements.
Full List of 14 IPS Officers Sent to UPSC
The panel includes senior IPS officers from multiple batches:
1992 Batch
Gaurav Yadav
Sharad Satya Chauhan
Kuldeep Singh
Harpreet Singh Sidhu
1993 Batch
Gurpreet Kaur Deo
Jitendra Kumar Jain
Shashi Prabha Dwivedi
1994 Batch
Sudhanshi Shekhar Srivastava
Praveen Kumar Sinha
Aamardeep Singh Rai
Voruvuru Neeraja
Anita Punj
Naresh Kumar
Ram Singh
These officers currently hold key positions across vigilance, anti-narcotics, cybercrime, training, and administrative wings of Punjab Police.
What Happens Next in the Selection Process
The UPSC will now undertake a detailed evaluation process, which includes:
Scrutiny of service records
Assessment of seniority and experience
Preparation of a shortlist of three officers
This final panel will then be sent back to the Punjab government, which will appoint one officer as the regular DGP.
Key Appointment Ahead of Strategic Challenges
The appointment of a full-time DGP is crucial at a time when Punjab faces multiple policing challenges, including law and order management, narcotics control, cybercrime, and border security issues.
A regular DGP with a fixed tenure is expected to bring stability, continuity, and strategic direction to the state police force.
A Crucial Test of Police Reforms Implementation
This development is also being viewed as a test case for the implementation of police reforms mandated by the Supreme Court. The insistence on a transparent, merit-based selection process aims to insulate top police appointments from arbitrary decisions.
With the process now underway, all eyes are on the UPSC shortlist and the final decision by the Punjab government, which will play a decisive role in shaping the future of policing in the state.
