Delhi: SC directs UPSC, Center, Nagaland to complete Nagaland DGP appointment process by December 19

Delhi: Supreme Court on Friday directed the Nagaland government, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the UPSC to finalize the process of appointing the state’s Director General of Police (DGP) by December 19.

Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice P.S. Narasimha declined to grant 60 days’ extension sought by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to finalize the process relating to the appointment of the Nagaland police chief. The court said failure to comply with its order would invite “punitive steps under law”.

The top court had in July 2018 passed a series of directions on police reforms in the country and restrained all states and union territories from appointing any police officer as acting DGPs to prevent favoritism and nepotism in such high-level appointments. Nepotism can be avoided.

As per the procedure, UPSC has to prepare a list of three senior police officers in consultation with the state government and other stakeholders and the state can appoint one of them as DGP.Currently, 1991 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer T.J. Longkumar is serving as Nagaland DGP. Longkumar was appointed as the DGP on 27 June 2018. He was given a one-year extension last year till August 31, 2022. He was then given an extension of six months till February next year.

The top court is hearing a plea seeking implementation of earlier directions of the top court on the appointment of DGPs.