With Director General of Police-Head of Police Force (DGP-HoPF) Ch. Dwaraka Tirumala Rao attaining superannuation by January 31 (this month end), ambiguity continued over appointment of the new DGP for the State.
A 1989 batch IPS officer, Mr. Tirumala Rao, who served in different cadres in United Andhra Pradesh and in bifurcated AP, is the present DGP and also the Managing Director of Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC).
Senior IPS officers, Madireddy Pratap of 1991 batch IPS, Harish Kumar Gupta (1992 batch) and Ravi Shankar Ayyanar, Kumar Vishwajeet (1994 batch) and few other officers are in the race for the top post.
Mr. Madireddy Pratap is the present DGP (Fire Services), Harish Kumar Gupta is the DGP (Vigilance and Enforcement), Kumar Vishwajeet is the Principal Secretary to Government (Home) and Dr. Ravi Shankar is the DGP (Crime Investigation Department).
The State government should submit the list of the DGP rank IPS officers, who have at least six months of service. The list with the panel of the eligible officers should be sent three months before the retirement of the present DGP, to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
The Commission will short list three candidates based on the seniority and merit. The State can appoint one of the officers from the short-listed officers as the State Police Chief.
Supreme Court’s directive
In October last year, the Supreme Court had issued contempt notices to the Chief Secretaries of eight States including Andhra Pradesh for allegedly appointing acting DGPs, violating 2006 judgement of the top court in Prakash Singh Vs the Centre case.
However, the AP government had appointed acting DGPs, who were junior officers, violating the court orders.
Meanwhile, names of senior IPS officers were making rounds among the top police personnel for the last few days over the probable candidate for the post of DGP-HoPF.
“Hope the State government will follow the Supreme Court’s directions and give priority for the senior officers in the panel for DGP-HoPF,” an IPS officer said.
