Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi: The Jharkhand government has formally objected to the Centre’s directive to retire Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Gupta by April 30, 2025, and has sent a detailed response asserting the legality of the appointment process.
According to sources, the reply—sent late Wednesday night—strongly defends the state’s rules regarding DGP appointments, stating that they are in full compliance with Supreme Court guidelines.
State Backs Its Appointment Process
In the response, the state government said it had framed rules for DGP selection using powers vested under the Police Act. The process, the letter says, adheres to the Supreme Court’s directives in the Prakash Singh vs Union of India case, which recommended a UPSC-approved panel for appointments as an interim measure.
The letter also claims that the Centre’s objections were reviewed in consultation with legal experts before finalising the state’s response. Every point raised by the Centre was addressed in the reply, sources added.
Premature Removal ‘Violation Of SC Orders’
The government reiterated that the Supreme Court has fixed a two-year minimum tenure for DGPs, and removing a DGP before this period would be a violation of apex court directives. Anurag Gupta’s term is protected under these orders, it said.
Matter Still Pending Before Supreme Court
Further, the government noted that a case on the validity of Anurag Gupta’s appointment is pending before the Supreme Court. Any decision to remove him before the judgment would be premature and legally inappropriate, the letter concludes.
This marks a rare standoff between the state and Centre over a high-level police appointment, with potential legal and administrative implications depending on the Supreme Court’s final ruling.
