EC clarifies: DGP cleared to stay

Mumbai: The Election Commission has clarified that the appointment of IPS officer Rashmi Shukla as director general of police (DGP) of Maharashtra was approved by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), putting an end to any possibility of changes in the state during the ongoing election, as demanded by the Opposition.Chief election commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar at a press conference on Tuesday said the DGP's appointment is governed by a procedure wherein names of the senior-most officers are sent to the UPSC, which then shortlists the candidate. He also mentioned a Supreme Court decision that outlines the appointment procedure. Kumar said, "This name has been cleared by the UPSC."Earlier, state Congress chief Nana Patole had written to the CEC, demanding Shukla's removal before the polls, while claiming that her extension would benefit the ruling alliance. Patole questioned her extension saying it contravened legal norms. He argued that extending Shukla's tenure beyond her original retirement date violated the Maharashtra Police Act, which mandates a two-year tenure for the DGP, provided they are not due for retirement in that period.Last year, the UPSC shortlisted three names for the DGP's post. Shukla, who was due to retire in June, was one of them. In Jan 2024, the state govt appointed her after granting her an extension to enable her to have a minimum tenure of two years.