A peculiar administrative deadlock has emerged in Jharkhand, where Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Gupta, a 1989-batch IPS officer of the state cadre, continues to hold office without receiving a salary following his official retirement on April 30, 2025. The situation underscores the deepening rift between the Centre and the Jharkhand government over bureaucratic appointments.
Reports reveal that the Principal Accountant General (PAG) office issued a zero-salary slip for May 2025, effectively treating Gupta as no longer in service in official records. As a result, the state treasury has halted his salary disbursement.
The dispute stems from conflicting interpretations of Gupta’s tenure. While the Centre insists that he stands retired upon reaching the age of superannuation, the state government contends that his appointment was for a fixed two-year term, citing Supreme Court guidelines that permit DGPs to continue beyond the age of 60 under such circumstances.
The impasse has now reached a critical point, with the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) refusing to process his salary, leaving Gupta in an unprecedented position—working without pay.
Despite the Centre’s objections, the Jharkhand government remains firm on retaining him, setting the stage for potential legal or administrative interventions in the coming days.
