Lack of consensus delays Punjab DGP’s selection

Chandigarh, September 21

Lack of consensus among different groups of the Congress and caste factors have delayed the appointment of the new DGP of Punjab. Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi discussed the probable candidates with his Cabinet colleagues and the PCC chief on Monday night and today with the party high command.

The shortlisted candidates are 1986-batch IPS officer Sidharth Chattopadhyaya, 1987-batch officer VK Bhawra and 1988-batch officer Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota. All these officers have more than six months of service left, making them eligible for the post.

Sources said different pressure groups were lobbying for officers and no final decision had been reached till the filing of this report. The ball is reportedly in the court of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who will approve the posting of the DGP, besides others.

The sources said the caste equation in the new dispensation might affect the chances of Sahota, who belongs to the Scheduled Caste community. Already the CM, who also hails from the SC community, has appointed SC IAS officer Hussan Lal as his Principal Secretary. The sources said the Congress high command wanted a balance in the caste equation.

Chattopadhyaya’s names was doing the rounds as he held two meetings with the newly appointed Chief Minister on his first day of office. However, there were some issues with his service record. The third officer, Bhawra, who has nine months of service left, may prove to be dark horse in the final selection.

The CM’s office is also looking at procedural and legal clarity on the appointment, like whether it can change the DGP on its own immediately or has to go through the Union Public Service Commission.

In 2018, the Supreme Court had laid down the procedure for the appointment of the DGP of a state. — TNS

CM, PCC president discuss names

Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi discussed the probable candidates with his Cabinet colleagues and the PCC chief on Monday night and on Tuesday with the party brass.

‘Shortlisted’ candidates

The ‘shortlisted’ candidates are 1986-batch IPS officer Sidharth Chattopadhyaya, 1987-batch officer VK Bhawra and 1988-batch officer Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota. All these officers have more than six months of service left.

New police Commissioners for 3 cities

The government has posted new Commissioners of Police (CPs). Ludhiana CP Naunihal Singh goes to Jalandhar, while Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill has been shifted from Jalandhar to Amritsar. Gurpreet Singh Bhullar is the new Ludhiana CP.