The Punjab & Haryana High Court on Thursday directed the Punjab Government to appoint regular Director General of Police (DGP) in Punjab.

It was submitted that the State is without a regular DGP since 2022.

Additional AG Chanchal Singla appearing for the State submitted that the panel is under active consideration of the government.

Considering the same, Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor directed the State to appoint a regular DGP and asked it to file a compliance report by next date (October 13).

The plea by Nikhil Thammam, Advocate by profession, stated that as per Supreme Court directions, the DGP is required to be selected by the State government from amongst the three senior-most officers empanelled for promotion to that rank by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) based on their length of service.

It was added that a minimum tenure of two years was intended to bring stability and continuity to the police leadership and reduce arbitrary and frequent changes to the highest office.

However, DGP Gaurav Yadav was given an additional-charge arrangement in addition to his duties as Special DGP, Administration, Punjab.