DGP

• Most senior police officer in States and Union Territories, and holds a three-star rank.
• Supervises the entire police force, manages law enforcement, and is in charge of maintaining public order, preventing crime, and protecting citizens' rights within their jurisdiction.

Appointment

• • • The purpose of the court directives was to guarantee police leadership stability, merit-based selection, and transparency in all states.

SC guidelines on Appointment

in the Prakash Singh case (2006). 

• The Supreme Court calls for states to appoint a permanent DGP, rejecting temporary appointments for leadership stability.
• Officers with minimum 30 years of service, not less than the rank of Additional Director General (ADG), and six months remaining before retirement are eligible for the post of DGP.
• State governments must consult with the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) by submitting a list of eligible officers three months before the current DGP retires.
• The UPSC chooses three officers based on seniority, service record, and experience, from which the state should appoint one.
• The selected DGP must be guaranteed a minimum tenure of two years to ensure consistency regardless of retirement dates.

UPSC Guidelines for DGP Selection (2023)

• Officers who have at least six months of service remaining before retirement will be considered for the position of State DGP.
• Allow officers with 25 years of experience to apply for the DGP position. Earlier required a minimum of 30 years of service.
• It defines the essential areas of experience required; minimum 10 years of experience in critical fields such as law enforcement, the crime branch, the economic offenses wing, or the intelligence wing.

Insignia

• DGP-ranked officers wear Gorget patches on their collars, which have a dark blue background with an oak leaf pattern. This uniform insignia is also worn by Special DGPs and Additional DGPs.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements:

1. The Director General of Police (DGP) is appointed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

2.  Police officers with a minimum 25 years of service are eligible for the position of DGP.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A) 1 only

B) 2 only

C) Both 1 and 2

D) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect:

The Director General of Police (DGP) is the highest-ranking law enforcement officer in states and union territories. He is in charge of managing the entire police force and law enforcement activities within their jurisdiction. He is appointed by the state government and collaborates with other law enforcement agencies and government officials to maintain the rule of law and protect citizens' rights.

Statement 2 is correct:

The Supreme Court stated in the Prakash Singh case (2006) that only officers with at least 30 years of service and the rank of Additional Director General (ADG) or equivalent are considered for the DGP position.  However, UPSC guidelines in 2023 allow officers with 25 years of experience to be considered for the DGP position. This change expands the pool of eligible candidates.