Despite govt order extending Yadava’s tenure, Vij tells Home Secy to initiate process for new Haryana DGP

Sushil Manav 

Tribune News Service 

Chandigarh, February 23 

Even as the state government recently extended DGP Manoj Yadava’s tenure till further orders, Home Minister Anil Vij has directed the Home secretary to send a panel of names to the UPSC to initiate process of selection of the new incumbent. 

In his letter written to the Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Vij has said the date of vacancy for the post of the DGP may be considered as March 2. 

Confirming the development, Vij told The Tribune that he has told the ACS (Home) to send a panel of seven officers to the UPSC so that the process for selection of the new DGP could be initiated, as “Yadava has already completed his two year-tenure”. 

The state government, vide order dated February 18, 2019 had appointed Manoj Yadava as new DGP. It was mentioned in the order that his term will be for a period of two years from the date of assumption of office. As he assumed office on February 21, 2019, his term was to end on February 20, 2021.  

However, the government issued another order on January 7 this year extending Yadava’s tenure as DGP beyond February 20, till further orders. 

Section 6 (2) of the Haryana Police Act, 3007, which deals with the term of the DGP in the state says that the Director General of Police shall have a tenure of not less than one year extendable up to one more year irrespective of his date of superannuation. 

However, the Supreme Court order in Parkash Singh verses Union of India that laid out procedure for selection of the head of a state’s police force prescribed the tenure of a DGP as minimum two years. 

“As per the orders of the Supreme Court of India, it was directed that all states shall send their proposals in anticipation of the vacancies to the UPSC well in time, at least three months prior to the date of retirement of the incumbent of the post of the DGP. In compliance of the SC directions in this regard, and the fact that Yadava has completed his two years tenure as DGP, a panel of officers who have completed 30 years of service and have a minimum of six month tenure left in service be sent immediately to the UPSC to be considered for the next DGP of Haryana. The date of vacancy for the post may be considered as March 2, 2021,” said the Vij’s letter to the Home Secretary telling him to send a panel of seven names of IPS based on the gradation list. 

Written in a stern tone, the letter warns the ACS (Home) to be held personally responsible for any future legal or any kind of complication in the matter.

When Vij’s attention was drawn to the fact that the SC order fixes two year tenure as minimum for the DGP and there is no mention of the maximum tenure, the minister said Yadava was selected for two years tenure by following a due procedure prescribed by the SC and hence the tenure could not be extended endlessly by a simple order. 

“We are already very late in initiating the process and hence I have told the Home Secretary to send the panel to the UPSC without any further delay,” he said.  

The ACS (Home), Rajeev Arora could not be contacted for his comments.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.