West Bengal government submits eight senior IPS officers’ names to the Centre for next DGP appointment. UPSC to shortlist candidates after CAT directive as the state seeks to end leadership uncertainty in the police force.
The West Bengal government has forwarded a panel of eight senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers to the Union government for consideration for the post of the state’s next permanent Director General of Police (DGP), official sources confirmed. The list was sent to New Delhi on January 21, marking a crucial step in resolving the leadership vacuum at the helm of the West Bengal Police.
According to sources, the panel includes acting DGP Rajeev Kumar, who is scheduled to retire on January 31, and Rajesh Kumar, a 1990 batch IPS officer who has alleged unfair exclusion during the earlier selection process. The other officers named in the list are Ranveer Kumar, Debashish Roy, Anuj Sharma, Jagmohan, N Ramesh Babu, and Siddhinath Gupta, all of whom are among the senior-most officers in the state cadre.
As per established procedure, state governments are required to submit a list of eligible senior IPS officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The UPSC’s Empanelment Committee then scrutinizes the names and shortlists three officers, whose names are sent back to the state government for the final appointment decision.
Sources clarified that the inclusion of acting DGP Rajeev Kumar in the panel is primarily for administrative and procedural reasons. He was one of the senior-most officers serving in the West Bengal Police at the time of the retirement of the previous permanent DGP, Manoj Malaviya, in December 2023. However, officials emphasized that his inclusion does not necessarily indicate the likelihood of his reappointment, particularly given his impending retirement.
Among the listed officers, Piyush Pandey, Rajesh Kumar, and Ranveer Kumar are understood to be under serious consideration, according to sources familiar with the process. Piyush Pandey, who previously served with the Special Protection Group (SPG), currently heads the security detail of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. His proximity to the state leadership has fueled speculation, though officials cautioned that the final selection would depend on the UPSC’s assessment and compliance with legal norms rather than individual preferences.
This is the second time the West Bengal government has sent a panel of names for the DGP position. The earlier panel, submitted on December 27, 2023, was returned by the UPSC due to procedural lapses. Under the Supreme Court-mandated guidelines, a state government must initiate the DGP selection process at least three months before the retirement of the incumbent. In this case, the panel should have been sent by September 2023, well ahead of Manoj Malaviya’s retirement.
The delay led to legal complications when IPS officer Rajesh Kumar approached the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), alleging that he had been unfairly excluded from the initial list despite fulfilling all eligibility criteria. The Tribunal took note of the procedural shortcomings and last Wednesday directed the state government to resubmit the panel by January 23.
In its order, the CAT also instructed the UPSC to convene a meeting of its Empanelment Committee on January 28 to evaluate the resubmitted names. The Commission is expected to forward the shortlist of three candidates to the West Bengal government on January 29. The Tribunal further directed the state to take a final decision on the appointment “as quickly as possible” to ensure administrative continuity.
| Also Read: SC Order May Extend Bengal Voters’ List Deadlines |
At present, the West Bengal Police continues to function without a full-time DGP, with Rajeev Kumar holding charge in an acting capacity until his retirement at the end of January. The absence of a permanent police chief has raised concerns within administrative and legal circles, particularly at a time when the state faces multiple law and order challenges.
The forthcoming decision is expected to have significant implications for policing, administrative stability, and the broader law enforcement framework in West Bengal. All eyes are now on the UPSC’s Empanelment Committee and the state government’s final call, which will determine who takes over as the next permanent Director General of Police.
