HC Orders Punjab to Appoint Regular DGP by October 13ਹਾਈਕੋਰਟ ਨੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਨੂੰ ਨਿਯਮਤ ਡੀਜੀਪੀ ਨਿਯੁਕਤ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਆਦੇਸ਼, 13 ਅਕਤੂਬਰ ਤੱਕ ਪਾਲਣਾ ਰਿਪੋਰਟ ਮੰਗੀ

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday directed the Punjab government to appoint a regular Director General of Police, ending a leadership vacuum that has lasted more than four years. A division bench of Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor issued the direction while hearing a public interest litigation and ordered the Chief Secretary to file a compliance affidavit by the next date of hearing on October 13.

Four years without a regular police chief

The PIL, filed by advocate Nikhil Thamman, submitted that Punjab has not had a regular DGP since 2022. The petition referred to the Supreme Court's landmark directions in the Prakash Singh v. Union of India case (2006), clarified in March 2019, which require states to select their police chief from a panel of the three senior-most officers empanelled by the Union Public Service Commission, and to grant a minimum two-year tenure to bring stability to the post and reduce arbitrary changes at the top.

The additional-charge arrangement

According to court records, 1992-batch IPS officer Gaurav Yadav was given additional charge of the DGP post on July 4, 2022, during the leave period of then regular DGP Viresh Kumar Bhawra. After Bhawra was transferred out on September 2, 2022, Yadav continued to hold the top post on additional charge "till further orders", alongside his substantive duties as Special DGP (Administration). The petitioner argued that continuing such an ad-hoc arrangement for years together undermines the Supreme Court's mandate and leaves the police chief in a position vulnerable to executive pressure.

Panel already received, appointment awaited

Thamman told the court that the UPSC panel for the appointment had been received by the state government in the first week of July, but no appointment had been made. Appearing for the state, Additional AG Chanchal Singla submitted that the panel was under active consideration of the government. Considering this, the bench directed the state to comply with the Supreme Court mandate and file a compliance affidavit by October 13.

Contempt warning if order not followed

Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Thamman said the High Court had directed that a regular DGP be appointed immediately and that the Chief Secretary must file an affidavit confirming compliance by the next date. He warned that if the appointment is not made by October 13, he would file a contempt petition against the Chief Secretary. The matter will next be heard on October 13, 2026.