Rajasthan Withholds NOCs for 5 IPS Officers Seeking Central Deputation; Dinesh MN, Biju George Joseph Affected
The Rajasthan government has reportedly withheld no-objection certificates (NOCs) for five Indian Police Service (IPS) officers seeking central deputation, citing the need to retain experienced officers for policing, law and order, and other critical responsibilities in the state.
Among those affected are 1995-batch Rajasthan-cadre IPS officers Dinesh MN and Biju George Joseph, both of whom have been empanelled for senior positions at the Centre. According to media reports, the state government is considering deputation requests on a case-by-case basis and may reconsider them if the Union Government specifically seeks an officer’s services.
The reported decision comes amid staffing constraints in Rajasthan Police, with 26 IPS officers from the state cadre already serving on central deputation.
Dinesh MN and Biju George Joseph Among Officers Affected
Dinesh MN, a 1995-batch IPS officer, currently serves as Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) overseeing the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) and Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF). He was empanelled for central deputation at the ADGP or equivalent level in February 2025.
Biju George Joseph K, also a 1995-batch IPS officer, is serving as ADGP (Personnel). He previously held the post of Jaipur Police Commissioner and was empanelled for Director General (DG)-level positions at the Centre in June 2026. His academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Engineering degree and a postgraduate diploma in Cyber Law, Cyber Crime Investigation and Digital Forensics.
Despite their empanelment, neither officer has reportedly received the state government’s NOC for the proposed deputation. Empanelment makes an officer eligible for consideration for a position at a particular level, but it does not automatically result in an appointment.
Three Other Officers Named in the Report
The report also identifies three other Rajasthan-cadre IPS officers and outlines their current assignments and previous postings.
* Dharmendra Singh: A 2014-batch officer currently serving as Superintendent of Police (SP), Chittorgarh. His earlier assignments include SP of Bhilwara, Dholpur and Sirohi.
* Sudhir Chaudhary: A 2015-batch officer currently posted as SP, Alwar. He has previously served as SP of Jaisalmer and Hanumangarh.
* Abhijit Singh: A 2012-batch officer serving as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) with the Anti-Narcotics Task Force. His previous postings include SP of Banswara and Nagaur.
The report does not establish that all three officers have been denied NOCs in the same manner as Dinesh MN and Biju George Joseph. Their inclusion and the precise status of their deputation requests should therefore be verified against the relevant official records.
26 Rajasthan-Cadre IPS Officers Serving at the Centre
According to the report, 26 IPS officers belonging to the Rajasthan cadre are currently serving on central deputation. A list attributed to Bhaskar English names the following officers:
Rajesh Nirwan, Rajesh Arya, Vinita Thakur, Vikram Thakur, Satyapriya Singh, Umesh Chandra Dutta, Navjyoti Gogoi, Jose Mohan, Nitin Deep Lakhan, Santosh Chalke, Don K. Joseph, Mamta Rahul, Ananddeep Singh Kapoor, Rahul Borat, Vikas Pathak, Rahul Jain, Preeti Jain, Anil Parash Deshmukh, Jagannath Singla, Vineet Kumar Rathore, Pooja Awana, Adarsh Sindhu, Kiran Kang Sindhu, Jai Yadav, Deepak Yadav and Digvijay Anand.
The report puts Rajasthan’s sanctioned IPS cadre strength at 222 posts, with approximately 208 to 214 officers in service at the time of reporting. If accurate, these figures point to a gap between the sanctioned strength and the number of serving officers, although the exact vacancy position would need confirmation from official cadre data.
Why Rajasthan Wants to Retain Experienced Officers
The state’s reported position is that it needs experienced police officers to supervise operations, maintain law and order and manage senior administrative responsibilities. The existing number of officers serving outside Rajasthan is also understood to be a consideration.
According to the report, the Personnel Department has indicated that decisions on central deputation rest with the state leadership. Joint Secretary Dheeraj Kumar Singh is quoted as saying that the matter falls within the Chief Minister’s purview and that NOCs had not been issued to the officers who applied.
The reported approach suggests that the state intends to assess requests in light of its own operational requirements, while leaving room for consideration if the Union Government specifically requests an officer.
Rajasthan has previously raised concerns about the release of senior officers for central assignments. In 2019, the Ashok Gehlot-led government reportedly resisted requests involving IAS officers, citing a shortage of experienced administrative personnel. Such differences reflect the continuing challenge of balancing state-level staffing requirements with the Centre’s need for officers in ministries, departments and national organisations.
What the Rules Say About Central Deputation
Central deputation allows officers of the All India Services, including the IPS, to serve in Union Government ministries, departments and other eligible organisations for a specified period.
Rule 6(1) of the Indian Police Service (Cadre) Rules, 1954, provides for deputation with the concurrence of the governments concerned. It also sets out a mechanism for resolving disagreements between the state and central governments, under which the Central Government may decide the matter and the state government is required to give effect to that decision.
The applicable procedure depends on the nature of the proposed assignment and the relevant administrative instructions. Consequently, the withholding of an NOC should not automatically be interpreted as the final outcome of every possible deputation process.
Empanelment Is Not a Guarantee of Appointment
The cases of Dinesh MN and Biju George Joseph underline the distinction between central empanelment and an actual appointment. Empanelment indicates that an officer may be considered for posts at a specified level; it is not itself a posting order.
For now, both officers reportedly continue in their Rajasthan assignments. Any move to a central position would depend on the applicable deputation procedure and decisions by the competent authorities.
The broader issue is whether Rajasthan can meet its policing and administrative needs while releasing experienced officers for central service. The outcome will depend on the state’s staffing position, the Centre’s requirements and the decisions taken under the governing deputation framework.
