Extension to DGP Arora has govt in fix

Tribune News Service 

Chandigarh, January 17

A day after the Centre allowed eight-month extension in service to Punjab DGP Suresh Arora, he has expressed unwillingness to continue even as the state government has asked the Home Department to set up a panel of five officers to be sent to the Centre for approval as per Supreme Court orders.

The DGP’s extension ruffled many a feather, especially the CM office, as no fresh proposal for extension was sent to the Union Home Ministry.

The government was awaiting a Supreme Court decision on the matter. The court had in June last year authorised the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recommend three out of a panel of five officers for the post to the state government.

Sources said the Chief Minister’s Office held a series of meetings and found the Centre gave extension on a previous letter seeking Arora’s extension by the state government. In the afternoon, Arora informed the government that he had not sought a fresh extension. 

Raveen Thukral, Punjab CM’s spokesperson, said the government was studying the SC order and the extension to the DGP. 

The Home Department would send the panel of five officers tomorrow, said sources, adding either Mohd Mustafa or Dinkar Gupta could get selected for the post.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court refused to modify its directions prescribing norms for selection of directors general of police (DGPs) and minimum two-year fixed tenure for them, saying its 2006 verdict on police reforms and subsequent orders aimed to insulate police from “political” and “executive” interference.