VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, Jan. 5: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Thursday finalized three names for the selection of the next DGP of Jharkhand. Sources said that during the meeting Ajay Singh, Ajay Bhatnagar and Anil Palta have been shortlisted for this coveted post of the head of the state police.
The UPSC meeting was attended by state DGP Niraj Kumar Sinha whose tenure is set to end on February 28 next month besides Jharkhand Chief Secretary Sukhdev Singh and State Home Secretary Rajiv Arun Ekka. Following the recommendation of the UPSC, the state government will pick any one out of three officials for the post of the DGP. Ajay Bhatnagar and Ajay Kumar Singh are 1989 batch IPS officers whereas Anil Palta is from the 1990 batch.
Ajay Bhatnagar, on central deputation currently, is serving as Joint Director in the CBI in Delhi. Ajay Kumar Singh is the DG of Anti-Corruption Bureau whereas Anil Palta is DG (Railway).
1988 batch IPS officer S. N. Pradhan, the senior most IPS officer in Jharkhand and currently on central deputation could have been the strongest and choicest candidate for this post, but he is said to be not willing to return to Jharkhand.
