Politics · India · 2 hrs ago
Supreme Court widens review of state DGP appointment laws
The Supreme Court widened its review of DGP appointments nationwide after the Union government challenged Jharkhand’s 2025 rules for choosing its police chief.
The case concerns Jharkhand and its first woman DGP, Tadasha Mishra, whose appointment the Centre says breached a 2006 court ruling.
That ruling requires a transparent selection process, at least two years in office and consideration of senior officers with at least six months before normal retirement.
Jharkhand argued that the Centre was applying the rules selectively, pointing to other states’ appointments, including West Bengal’s.
The court said its concern was whether states were following the law, not which party was in power.
It asked an adviser to review police laws and DGP appointments across India with help from the UPSC.
Jharkhand must revisit its 2025 rules, and the court will hear Mishra’s case on November 3.
The Supreme Court asked an amicus curiae to review state police laws and DGP appointments nationwide for compliance with its 2006 ruling.
The review followed a dispute between the Centre and Jharkhand over the state’s 2025 law for appointing a Director General of Police.
The Centre argued that the law breached the ruling, while Jharkhand accused it of applying different standards to other states.
The court said its focus was ensuring the 2006 ruling was not diluted and asked Jharkhand to revisit its law.
The court gave Jharkhand DGP Tadasha Mishra an opportunity to present her case at the next hearing on November 3.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, the Union government and the Jharkhand government are involved. The case concerns Jharkhand DGP Tadasha Mishra.
- What
- The court widened scrutiny of state laws and DGP appointments to check compliance with its 2006 ruling.
- When
- The hearing took place on October 8, 2026. The next hearing is scheduled for November 3.
- Where
- In the Supreme Court of India.
- Why
- The Centre challenged Jharkhand’s 2025 DGP appointment law, saying it breached the court’s 2006 ruling.
Union government
Jharkhand government
Jharkhand’s 2025 law
Union government
The law breaches the Supreme Court’s 2006 ruling, the Centre argued.
Jharkhand government
The Centre should apply the same scrutiny to other states, Jharkhand argued.
DGP appointments nationwide
Union government
Other state laws and appointments that breach the ruling should also be examined, the Centre said.
Jharkhand government
The Centre was applying a double standard by challenging Jharkhand but not other states, Jharkhand said.
The Supreme Court’s Prakash Singh judgment set out a process for DGP appointments and a minimum two-year tenure.
The court clarified that only senior police officers with at least six months remaining before normal retirement should be considered for DGP.
West Bengal’s DGP was appointed by the Election Commission, although the officer was due to retire the following month, Jharkhand told the court.
The Centre challenged Jharkhand’s 2025 law, and the court requested a nationwide review of state police laws and DGP appointments.
The court scheduled the next hearing and gave Tadasha Mishra an opportunity to state her case.
- Jharkhand law
- Selection and Appointment of Director General and Inspector General of Police, Jharkhand (Head of Police), Regulation of 2025
- Supreme Court ruling
- Prakash Singh versus Union of India, 2006
- Minimum DGP tenure
- Two years
- Retirement eligibility
- At least six months remaining before normal retirement
- Next hearing
- November 3, 2026
What people are saying
if there are any other States, irrespective of the party in power, if they are as bad or worse, they must go. I cannot be choosy. I only wanted to convey that the Union of India does not choose States
Our sole focus is that the law declared in Prakash Singh should not be diluted
The Solicitor General may file a petition against that appointment [West Bengal] as well.