Fresh Hurdle In Appointment Of West Bengal DGP

The CAT in its order had given a tight deadline for completing the selection process, as it had directed that the process be concluded by January 31, the date on which the incumbent acting DGP, Rajeev Kumar, a 1989-batch IPS officer, is scheduled to retire.

The UPSC approaching the High Court has added a fresh legal complication to a process that has already been marked by delays and litigation. The CAT had issued the order while hearing a petition filed by Rajesh Kumar, a 1990-batch IPS officer of the West Bengal cadre, who had questioned the manner in which the empanelment of officers for the DGP post was done by the state government.

Compressed Timeline

In its order, the tribunal directed the West Bengal government to submit a fresh list of eligible IPS officers to the UPSC by January 23 and had laid down a strict schedule for the UPSC, to convene the empanelment committee by January 28 to prepare a panel of suitable officers and forward the same to the state government by January 29.

The intent behind the compressed timeline was to ensure that a regular DGP could be appointed before the retirement of the acting DGP Rajeev Kumar at the end of the month, sources said.

Following the CAT’s directive, the West Bengal government had swiftly forwarded a revised list of eight IPS officers to the UPSC, the sources said, adding that the list included the name of Rajeev Kumar, as well.

However, instead of proceeding with the empanelment exercise as per the CAT’s direction, the UPSC approached the Delhi High Court and effectively put the process on hold.

The situation has been rendered more complex by the fact that three DG-rank IPS officers including Rajeev Kumar, Rajesh Kumar, and Jag Mohan are all set to superannuate from their services on January 31.

A Prolonged Delay

While there had been indications earlier that the state was preparing to appoint a new DGP from February 1, the UPSC’s move has now cast serious doubt over whether that timeline can be adhered to.

The post of DGP in West Bengal has effectively been lying vacant since 28 December 2023, when the previous police chief demitted office. Since then, Rajeev Kumar has been continuing as acting DGP for more than two years.

The prolonged delay in appointing a regular police chief has largely been attributed to the state government’s failure to initiate the selection process in time, as mandated by the Supreme Court’s 2006 Prakash Singh judgment, which lays down clear guidelines for the appointment of DGPs.

The UPSC has maintained that the state government forwarded its proposal for empanelment only in July 2025, nearly 18 months after the vacancy arose. Citing this delay, the UPSC returned the proposal and advised the state to seek further directions from the Supreme Court. Although a panel of 10 IPS officers was later submitted and three names shortlisted, the process stalled after Rajesh Kumar challenged the selection before the CAT.