The Union Government has notified a Single Window System for appointing State Director-General of Police/Head of Police Force. The new policy effective April 22, 2025, comes against the backdrop of several States not following the Supreme Court orders in the Prakash Singh case and the Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines as regards appointment of DGP/HoPF.
The Single Window System comprises a detailed check-list and standard easy-to-use formats for the States to send proposals enabling a smooth and expeditious process of empanelment by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), police sources said.
Pointing to major discrepancies in the proposals sent for DGP appointments in the past, the Centre fixed responsibility on the State by asking an officer not below the rank of a Secretary to Government to certify minimum tenure of DGP-rank officers sent for empanelment to the UPSC.
The apex court guidelines and consequent MHA circulars made it clear that an officer considered for appointment as DGP/HoPF should have a minimum residual services of six months from the date of occurrence of vacancy. Also, the States should send proposals to the UPSC at least three months before the vacancy arose or the date of superannuation of the DGP/HoPF.
