A fresh confrontation has emerged between the Union Home Ministry and the Jharkhand government as Anurag Gupta, a 1990-batch IPS officer of the Jharkhand cadre, continues to serve as the state’s Director General of Police (DGP) despite a central directive mandating his retirement on April 30, 2025.
As of May 1, the state government had not issued any official retirement notification, signaling a direct challenge to the Centre’s instructions and intensifying the constitutional standoff.
State Pushes Back, Citing Supreme Court Guidelines
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had formally communicated to the Jharkhand Chief Secretary that Gupta should retire upon completion of his term. However, the JMM-led government, under Chief Minister Hemant Soren, has refused to comply. CM Soren, who returned from an overseas trip on April 30, reportedly met Gupta the same evening at his residence.
Following the meeting, the state sent a formal response to the MHA, reportedly after seeking legal counsel. The letter asserts that Gupta’s appointment complies with Supreme Court guidelines guaranteeing a minimum two-year fixed tenure for state DGPs. Citing this, the Jharkhand government has requested the Centre to reconsider its retirement order.
The state has also urged that no final decision be taken until the High Court delivers its verdict on an ongoing legal case concerning Gupta’s appointment.
Legal Uncertainty and Political Undercurrents
The controversy surrounding Gupta is not new. Appointed as Acting DGP on July 26, 2024, replacing Ajay Singh (IPS:1989:JH), Gupta was later removed by the Election Commission of India during the Assembly elections. Ajay Singh was reinstated during that period. However, following the return of the Hemant Soren-led coalition to power, Gupta was reinstated as full-time DGP on November 28, 2024.
With the matter now entangled in legal and political complexities, the coming days will be crucial in determining whether the state can hold its position or if the Centre will enforce its authority in a growing tug-of-war over bureaucratic appointments.
