Supreme Court Seeks Response from Six States, Including UP, Over DGP Appointments

The Supreme Court has sought explanations from six states, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Punjab, regarding appointing Directors General of Police (DGPs). The court has questioned whether these states have adhered to its earlier directives for appointing police chiefs.

Details of the Case:
A fresh petition filed by the Jan Seva Trust alleged that these states have violated the Supreme Court's guidelines issued in the 2006 Prakash Singh case and subsequent rulings. The guidelines require that:
1.    The term for DGPs must be fixed at two years.
2.    Appointments should be based on a panel of three of the most senior and eligible IPS officers shortlisted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
The states named in the petition are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Jharkhand.

Supreme Court's Observations:
A bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar heard the plea. The bench directed Jharkhand to submit its response during the hearing and instructed the remaining states to file their affidavits within six weeks. The court emphasised strict compliance with its earlier orders and fixed the matter for further hearing after the stipulated timeframe.