Former Chandigarh Director General of Police (DGP) Surendra Singh Yadav, a 1997-batch IPS officer from the AGMUT cadre, is facing a deepening administrative crisis following his legal challenge against the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Since April 1, Yadav has been transferred three times in quick succession, with the latest posting assigning him as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Anti-Naxal Operations in the Border Security Force (BSF), Chhattisgarh.
The trouble began when Yadav was abruptly moved from his Chandigarh post to BSF Delhi—shortly after implementing a controversial large-scale reshuffle within the Union Territory Police. His decision to legally contest the transfer, alleging that he was being placed under a junior officer, was rejected by the court. What followed were back-to-back transfers—first to Rajasthan for orientation and then to his current role in Chhattisgarh—raising eyebrows within bureaucratic circles.
Fallout of a Controversial Tenure
Appointed as DGP Chandigarh in March 2024, Yadav quickly made headlines by ordering the transfer of over 2,700 personnel, many of whom had long remained in their postings. While framed as a reform initiative, the move drew internal resistance and led to administrative unrest.
In addition to the reshuffle, he launched disciplinary actions against officers linked to drug trafficking and corruption, enforced premature retirements, and clamped down on station-level misconduct. These aggressive reforms triggered a flood of voluntary retirement (VRS) applications, and a viral letter, allegedly authored by dissatisfied officers, harshly criticized his leadership.
Legal Battle and Consequences
On April 1, Yadav was suddenly transferred from his top post to DIG, BSF Delhi, prompting him to file a legal petition claiming demotion. The court, however, denied him relief, leaving him vulnerable to further reassignments. Sources suggest that his move to challenge the MHA in court may have further strained relations with the Centre, resulting in a perceived punitive trajectory of postings.
Other BSF Postings
Amid Yadav’s high-profile transfer, the BSF has also reassigned two other senior IPS officers:
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Ashok Kumar (2006 batch, Himachal Pradesh cadre) has been appointed Inspector General (Training) at BSF Force Headquarters, New Delhi.
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Jal Singh Meena (2010 batch, Tripura cadre), previously DIG at BSF HQ, now takes charge as DIG (Confidential), BSF.
While these transfers are considered routine, Yadav’s administrative turbulence stands out—highlighting the potential costs of bureaucratic confrontation with the central establishment.
