DGP appt: UPSC asks state to seek clarity from top court, returns panel
Times of India | 7 January 2026
Kolkata: The UPSC has advised Bengal chief secretary Nandini Chakravorty to approach the Supreme Court and obtain clarification on the appointment of the successor to state's acting DGP Rajeev Kumar, who is set to retire on Jan 31. Citing delay, the UPSC has also returned the list of IPS officers recommended by Bengal govt for selection as the new DGP.
Seeking to select Kumar's successor, Nabanna had sent a list to UPSC on July 23, 2025, urging it to convene the Empanelment Committee Meeting (ECM) to prepare a panel for appointment to the post of DGP. However, UPSC said the state had delayed the process and had missed the Supreme Court-mandated deadline.
According to a Supreme Court order, a state should send its proposed panel to the UPSC, three months prior to an incumbent DGP's superannuation. According to the UPSC, the post of DGP had fallen vacant on Dec 28, 2023, after Manoj Malviya demitted office after completion of mandatory two-year term.
It may be noted that three other DG-rank IPS officers —Rajesh Kumar, principal secretary of mass education and library services, Ranvir Kumar, DG (Fire), and Jag Mohan, director of civil defence — are also due to retire in Jan. DG (Rail) Debashis Roy will retire in Feb.
In its letter dated Dec 31, 2025, UPSC told the state that ECM was held on Oct 30, 2025, and records and the clarifications submitted by Bengal govt regarding the delay were examined. "However, divergent views emerged among the UPSC committee members regarding the date of occurrence of vacancy, due to the delayed submission of the proposal by Nabanna."
UPSC then sought the opinion of the attorney general, who said there is "no provision for UPSC to condone such inordinate delay and then proceed as though no irregularity had occurred, ultimately recommending a panel. Accepting the proposal of Bengal would create serious anomalies... The state should have first come to the Supreme Court in case of any difficulty."