The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear next week a plea challenging the appointment of Jharkhand Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Gupta, alleging violation of the apex court’s guidelines on police appointments.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran said the matter will be listed on July 30 and 31. The direction came after senior advocate Anjana Prakash, appearing for a social activist, submitted that the appointment of Gupta did not follow the due process mandated by the court.
Prakash argued that the case involved non-compliance with earlier Supreme Court rulings and thus required adjudication by a three-judge bench. In response, the CJI assured that the matter would be taken up during the regular hearing schedule next week.
Anurag Gupta, who was due to retire on April 30 upon attaining the age of 60 as per Central government rules, was granted an extension by the Jharkhand government. However, sources indicate that the Centre declined the state’s request for extending his tenure.
This is not the first time Gupta’s appointment has come under judicial scrutiny. In September last year, the Supreme Court had issued notices to the state government and Gupta in a contempt plea alleging violation of the court’s landmark 2006 judgment on police reforms. That judgment, and subsequent directions, mandated a minimum two-year tenure for DGPs and required states to appoint the DGP from among the three senior-most IPS officers, as shortlisted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
