October 5 cut-off date for Punjab DGP, insists UPSC

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 23

In trouble for officiating DGP Siddharth Chattopadhyaya, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has in a communication to the Punjab Government, again insisted that October 5, 2021, was the cut-off date for setting the eligibility of officers as per the duration of service left.

The UPSC communication dated December 22 to the government follows the postponement of the meeting scheduled for December 21 between officials of the commission and the government for shortlisting three officers for the post. The UPSC had postponed the meeting as the government insisted on taking September 30 as the cut-off date. For eligibility of empanelment, an officer should have minimum six months of service left. DGP Chattopadhyaya has exactly this duration of service left if September 30 date is finalised. He superannuates on March 31, 2022.

UPSC undersecretary Ashok Prasad has in the latest letter to the Punjab Chief Secretary said the proposal submitted by the government to finalise September 30 as the cut-off date had again been examined in the Commission but this date was not justified. It said, “The state government vide their letter dated September 30 submitted the proposal for preparation of panel of officers for appointment of DGP. The proposal was examined and it was observed that ex-DGP Dinkar Gupta relinquished charge on October 5 and as such the vacancy had arisen on that date and not on September 30.”

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