HC questions the delay in DGP appointment

Bombay High Court hears PIL seeking records of “inordinate delay” in not following SC norms

The Bombay High Court on Monday asked why the Maharashtra government cannot accept the recommendations of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in appointing a permanent Director General of Police (DGP).

A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice M.S. Karnik was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Datta Mane seeking direction to the government to appoint a permanent DGP as per the UPSC recommendation.

The PIL sought the government to place records in connection with the “inordinate delay” in not following the Supreme Court’s directions which had said the appointment of a permanent DGP should be made from a list of three officers recommended by the UPSC. Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, representing the UPSC, said the panel had recommended names of Hemant Nagrale, Rajnish Seth, Venkatesan and acting DGP Sanjay Pandey’s name was not in the list of recommendations.