Our Correspondent
Kohima, Jan. 9 (EMN): The Supreme Court of India on Monday asked the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to file an affidavit as to whether the concurrence of IPS officers is necessary before empanelling them as DGP in a state even if on central deputation.
"MHA shall file affidavit within a week indicating whether concurrence of officer is necessary before empanelling the officer for appointment as DGP in State even though he is on central deputation," said a bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha, according to PTI.
The apex court was hearing a plea filed by 'Nagaland Law Students Federation', seeking enforcement of its earlier directions on appointment of the Nagaland DGP as T J Longkumer, a 1991 batch IPS officer, who had stepped down last week following controversy over repeated extension of his tenure.
A Sunil Acharya (1991- Nagaland cadre) is eligible to be the next DGP of the state but he said to have refused to be posted as the police chief. Hence the state government had appointed Rupin Sharma, a 1992-batch IPS officer of the Nagaland cadre, as the new DGP of the state, whose charge came into effect on Jan. 7.
During the hearing on Monday, CJI Chandrachud remarked that "Him (Acharya) saying yes or no is irrelevant since he is in the (Nagaland) cadre. Government can say he is wanted somewhere else”. Despite being another eligible officer, the UPSC did not send Acharya’s name to Nagaland since he refused, CJI further noted according to the legal website Bar and Bench.
“MHA shall state if Mr Acharya is needed in central deputation for national interest or he can be put under the panel for the Nagaland DGP post,” the Court said.
Further, the Court had orally remarked that the incumbent DGP must be allowed to retire in peace rather than be re-appointed.