Appointment of responsible DGP: Case against Tamil Nadu government

A contempt of court case has been filed in the Supreme Court against the Tamil Nadu government for violating court orders in the appointment of the Director General of Police.

Shankar Jiwal, who was the DGP (Law and Order) of the Tamil Nadu Police Department, retired last Sunday. Following this, senior IPS officer Venkatraman was appointed as the acting DGP.

However, Henry Tiphagne, a member of the Madurai 'People's Watch' group, has filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the Tamil Nadu government, claiming that this appointment violates the Supreme Court's judgments.

Tipu filed a contempt of court case in court.

In his petition, he stated: The Tamil Nadu government has violated the rule that the state government must provide a list of recommendations containing the names of senior officers to the UPSC for the appointment of the next DGP three months before the end of the DGP's term.

The Supreme Court has already ruled on police reforms that the appointment of the Director of Police should be made on the basis of merit and transparency. The basis of skills, including work experience, for the post of DGP

The state government should send a list of 3 senior IPS officers to the UPSC. State governments should completely avoid the temporary or acting DGP rule, it had said.

However, in violation of this Supreme Court verdict, senior IPS officer Venkatraman was appointed as the DGP of Tamil Nadu. Therefore, he has stated in the petition that contempt of court action should be taken against the Tamil Nadu government for violating the Supreme Court verdict.

This petition is expected to come up for hearing in the Supreme Court soon.