Punjab DGP gets 3-month extension 'in public interest'

CHANDIGARH: Punjab DGP and 1982-batch IPS officer Suresh Arora has been given a three-month extension in service 'in public interest'. He was to retire on September 30.

Acting on the proposal of Union home ministry on August 28, the appointments committee of the Cabinet on Tuesday relaxed "Rule 16(1) of All India Service (DCRB) Rules 1958, in public interest' to grant Arora an extension.

The Centre had given extension to two other DGPs recently. This included

Maharashtra police

head D D Padsalgikar who was given a three months extension on August 28 and former

Meghalaya

DGP Swaraj Bir Singh who retired on July 31 after serving a similar extension.

It is learnt that 1984-batch Punjab cadre IPS officer, S K Goyal, who is second in seniority after Arora and is on central deputation since 2001, is expecting his promotion as head of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

RAW chief selection to decide next DGP

Sources say that it will be clear by December 30 whether 1984-batch Punjab cadre IPS officer, S K Goyal-Goyal will get to head RAW or not. In case, he is not considered for the post, he could be appointed as the next Punjab DGP given his clean image and service record. He had recently met Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh in New Delhi.

After Goyal, DGP (state human rights commission) Mohammad Mustafa makes it to the seniority list. But the state government on September 8 gave him additional charge of the powerful anti-drug STF.

Since Mustafa’s wife and Malerkotla MLA, Razia Sultana, is also higher education minister, sources say it is unlikely that Mustafa will be made state police head. At the same time, 1987-batch IPS officer Dinkar Gupta (DGP intelligence) is also being considered as one of the frontrunners for the state police chief’s post. The state government has not yet started the process to appoint the next police head.

The Supreme Court had on July 3 directed states “when they anticipate vacancy in the post of DG, they shall send their proposals to the Union Public Service Commission well in time — at least 3 months prior to the date of retirement of the incumbent on the post. The UPSC shall then prepare the panel as per the directions of in the judgment reported in (2006) 8 SCC 1, out which the State shall pick its DG.”