IndiaPosted at: Sep 22 2026 10:26PM


Appointment of ‘preferred choice’ as Odisha DGP smacks of ‘conspiracy, collusion’: SC told

Parmod Kumar

New Delhi, Sep 22 (UNI) The process for appointment of the Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) smacked of “conspiracy and collusion” to disqualify three senior-most officers of DGP rank and pave the way for the State government’s “preferred choice”, an Additional DGP-rank officer, to head the police force in the State, the Supreme Court was told on Tuesday.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana was told that senior officers otherwise eligible for consideration had allegedly been sought to be excluded from the selection process to facilitate the appointment of the State government’s preferred candidate.

Appearing for the PIL petitioner, senior advocate P. Chidambaram termed the developments “outrageous” and “disgusting” and said that, to facilitate the appointment of the “preferred choice”, a proposal for creation of an ex-cadre post was moved on August 8, 2026. It was cleared by the union Ministry of Home Affairs the very next day, August 9, following which the appointment was effected.

“Everything was done in 48 hours,” Chidambaram told the court, obviously pointing to the lightning speed with which the proposal was initiated by the State government, approved by the union Home Ministry and followed by the appointment. He further submitted that there was no provision for such an ex-cadre position in the Indian Police Service.

He further pointed out that on February 9, 2026, the Odisha government had shot down a proposal for the creation of an ex-cadre post but allowed creation of an ex-cadre position on August 9, 2026.

Chidambaram also contended that the Odisha government had forwarded 11 names, including that of its alleged “preferred choice”, to the union Public Service Commission, contrary to the Supreme Court’s 2006 directions in the police reforms case, Prakash Singh v. union of India.

Appearing for Susanta Kumar Nath, one of the three senior-most police officers in Odisha whose integrity was allegedly questioned during the process, his counsel said Nath had an unblemished 32-year service record. He submitted that Nath was a recipient of the President’s Medal for Meritorious Service and had consistently received outstanding annual confidential reports, which reflected on his integrity.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench that the State had filed a note on the issue and wished to make submissions on its basis.

The matter will come up for further hearing on Wednesday – September 23, 2026.

In its September 22, 2006 judgment in Prakash Singh (Police Reform Case), the Supreme Court directed that a State DGP be chosen from among three senior-most officers empanelled by the UPSC based on length of service, very good record and range of experience. It also prescribed a minimum tenure of two for the selected DGP, irrespective of the date of superannuation.
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Tags: #Appointment of ‘preferred choice’ as Odisha DGP smacks of ‘conspiracy# collusion’: SC told
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