Chandigarh: Punjab may soon get a regular Director General of Police (DGP), with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann reportedly giving in-principle approval to appoint incumbent acting police chief Gaurav Yadav to the post.
According to a report published by The Tribune on October 9, the Punjab government has moved closer to finalising Yadav’s appointment after the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed it to take an appropriate decision on appointing a regular DGP. The state has been asked to submit a compliance affidavit by October 13.
Yadav, a 1992-batch IPS officer, has been handling the responsibilities of Punjab’s police chief since July 2022 while also serving as Special DGP, Administration. However, the formal appointment order had not been issued at the time of the report.
Has Bhagwant Mann Approved Gaurav Yadav’s Appointment As Regular DGP?
According to The Tribune, the Chief Minister has given in-principle approval to Yadav’s appointment. The Home Department had sent the file to Mann, but it had not been returned to the department by Thursday evening.
A formal announcement was expected before the October 13 deadline set by the High Court, according to a government source cited in the report.
Until an official order is issued, however, Yadav’s appointment as regular DGP remains unconfirmed.
Why Is Punjab Under Pressure To Appoint A Regular DGP?
Punjab has been functioning without a regular DGP since 2022, when Yadav was given additional charge of the top police post.
The prolonged arrangement was challenged through a public interest litigation filed by advocate Nikhil Thamman. The petition questioned the state’s failure to appoint a regular police chief in accordance with the established selection process.
On October 1, the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the state government to take an appropriate decision and asked Chief Secretary KAP Sinha to submit an affidavit explaining the decision by October 13.
The bench of Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor observed that an arrangement under which an officer continues as acting DGP should not be allowed to continue indefinitely.
Which Officers Were Shortlisted For Punjab’s Regular DGP Post?
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) sent Punjab a panel of three 1992-batch IPS officers for consideration.
The officers are:
- Gaurav Yadav: The incumbent acting DGP of Punjab.
- Sharad Satya Chauhan: A senior IPS officer who has served as Punjab’s Vigilance chief.
- Harpreet Singh Sidhu: A senior IPS officer also included in the UPSC panel.
The Punjab government is required to select the regular police chief from the panel. Yadav’s inclusion means he is eligible for consideration, but the formal appointment depends on the state government’s decision and the completion of the required process.
How Long Has Gaurav Yadav Been Serving As Punjab’s Acting DGP?
Yadav took charge of the DGP’s responsibilities in July 2022 after the then police chief, Viresh Kumar Bhawra, was moved out of the post.
For more than four years, Yadav has continued to lead the state police under an additional-charge arrangement while holding the post of Special DGP, Administration.
His reported selection would bring an end to the prolonged interim arrangement, provided the government issues the formal appointment order.
What Happens Next In The Punjab DGP Appointment?
The immediate deadline is October 13, when the Punjab government is required to place its position before the High Court.
If the state finalises Yadav’s appointment and issues the formal order, Punjab could have a regular DGP after more than four years. If the process remains incomplete, the government will have to explain its position to the court.
For now, the reported in-principle approval signals movement towards a decision, but the final confirmation will depend on the official government order.
