UPSC Stands Firm: Rejects Tamil Nadu’s Objection to DGP Panel, Reaffirms List of Three Senior IPS Officers Amid Centre-State Tussle
The dispute between the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the Tamil Nadu government over the appointment of the state’s next Director General of Police (DGP) has intensified. The UPSC has turned down the Tamil Nadu government’s objection to its proposed panel of officers and reaffirmed its decision to recommend three senior IPS officers for the top police position.
UPSC Reiterates Its Decision, Declines to Revise Panel
In an official communication to the Tamil Nadu government, the UPSC firmly stated that it would not modify its earlier list or reconsider the State’s objection that the empanelled officers were “unacceptable.”
The Commission emphasized that the selection process strictly adhered to the Supreme Court’s directives issued in the Prakash Singh vs. Union of India case, which outlines the procedure for appointing state police chiefs to ensure transparency and merit-based selection.
DGP Post Remains Vacant Since August
Tamil Nadu has been without a regular DGP since August 30, 2025, when Shankar Jiwal (IPS: 1990: TN) retired from service. In his absence, the state government appointed G. Venkatraman (IPS: 1994: TN) as DGP (in-charge) instead of submitting a panel of eligible officers to the UPSC, as mandated by the Supreme Court’s guidelines.
This prompted a Madurai-based lawyer to file a contempt petition before the Supreme Court, accusing the State of violating the Prakash Singh judgment by not following the prescribed procedure for appointing a permanent police chief.
Supreme Court Intervention and UPSC Panel Formation
Acting on the court’s direction to expedite the appointment, the UPSC convened its Empanelment Committee meeting on September 26, 2025. After due consideration, the Commission finalized a panel of three senior IPS officers:
Seema Agrawal
Rajeev Kumar
Sandeep Rai Rathore
However, the Tamil Nadu government objected to the list, claiming dissatisfaction with the empanelment process and rejecting the recommended names.
Political Undercurrents Deepen the Dispute
The issue has since acquired a political dimension. Tamil Nadu’s Law Minister, S. Reghupathy, alleged that the Union government was attempting to “impose its choice” for the DGP post, framing the dispute as another instance of Centre-State friction.
The UPSC’s latest decision—reaffirming the original panel and dismissing the State’s objections—has further heightened tensions, signaling a possible legal or administrative confrontation between the two sides.
Next Steps and Possible Outcomes
With the UPSC standing firm on its recommendations, the Tamil Nadu government is now obligated to select the new DGP from the three names on the approved list.
However, it remains unclear how the State will respond. Any refusal to accept the panel could lead to a fresh round of legal proceedings and deepen the ongoing standoff, making the DGP appointment one of the most closely watched administrative disputes in recent times.
