As the current West Bengal Director General of Police, Rajeev Kumar’s tenure is set to conclude on January 31, issues have emerged regarding the selection of his replacement. The Union Public Service Commission’s Director (All India Service), Nand Kishor Kumar, advised the West Bengal Chief Secretary, Nandini Chakraborty, to seek Supreme Court clearance for appointing Rajeev Kumar’s successor. The UPSC returned the list of IPS officers recommended by the state government for the new DGP selection.
The standard procedure requires the state government to propose a list of three serving IPS officers for the DGP position, with the final appointment approved by the UPSC. The situation stems from the retirement of Rajeev Kumar’s predecessor, Manoj Malviya, in December 2023. Instead of nominating a panel of three IPS officers for Malviya’s succession, the state government opted to designate Rajeev Kumar as the acting DGP. Although the government submitted a list of IPS officers for his successor, the UPSC did not accept it.
In correspondence with the West Bengal Chief Secretary, the UPSC’s Director (All India Service) referenced a 2018 Supreme Court ruling mandating that states propose the panel of IPS officers for the new DGP at least three months before the incumbent’s retirement. Therefore, the West Bengal government should have submitted the recommended panel in September 2023, three months before Manoj Malviya’s retirement in December 2023. The UPSC also consulted the Attorney General of India, who advised the state government to seek Supreme Court clearance for Rajeev Kumar’s successor appointment.
