SC to hear pleas for implementation of 2006 verdict on police reforms in May

Supreme Court directs states to appoint DGP from list of 3 senior officers, warns of contempt for non-compliance.

The Supreme Court said on Tuesday (March 25, 2025) that it will hear in May pleas seeking implementation of its 2006 verdict on police reforms that recommended steps like separation of investigation and law and order duties.

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Later, the top court also passed another set of directions that included no ad hoc or interim appointment to the post of Director General of Police (DGP) by the State governments.

The Union Public Service Commission, in consultation with a State government and other stakeholders, will have to prepare a list of three senior police officers and the state can appoint any one of them as DGP, the top court had said.

On Tuesday, lawyer Prashant Bhushan and senior advocate Dushyant Dave told a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan that the apex court guidelines were being flouted by various State governments.

"There has been rampant corruption in the appointment of police chiefs... rampant," Mr. Bhushan said.

"State after state is refusing to comply with the judgment and directions," Dave alleged, adding if these reformatory directions are not implemented then "we will lose everything for which we stand".