Supreme Court to Hear Plea Challenging Jharkhand DGP Appointment on September 7

The controversy surrounding the appointment of Jharkhand’s Director General of Police (DGP) has reached a crucial stage in the Supreme Court, with the court set to examine questions over the appointment of an officer just a day before retirement and the subsequent grant of a two-year tenure.

The case concerns the appointment of incumbent DGP Tadasha Mishra and the rules framed by the Jharkhand government for selecting the state police chief. Senior advocate Raju Ramachandran, who is assisting the court as amicus curiae, has submitted his report, and the Supreme Court is expected to consider its findings at the next hearing on September 7.

The central question is whether appointing an officer as DGP immediately before retirement and then giving the officer a fixed two-year tenure is consistent with the Supreme Court’s earlier directions on DGP appointments and the procedure followed by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

The dispute dates back to January 8, 2025, when the Jharkhand government introduced new rules governing the appointment of the DGP. A public interest litigation was subsequently filed before the Jharkhand High Court, challenging the rules on the ground that they were inconsistent with the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in the Prakash Singh case.

The Supreme Court later passed an order in the matter on August 18, 2025. The state government subsequently amended Rule 5(C) of its DGP appointment rules. Shortly after the amendment, a new DGP was appointed on December 30, 2025. That appointment too has been challenged before the court.

The amicus curiae’s report has raised questions over the procedure adopted by the state government. One of the issues highlighted is that the government proceeded with the appointment under the amended rules without forwarding a panel of names to the UPSC.

The report has also examined the eligibility criteria used while considering officers for the post. According to the issues raised before the court, consideration was linked to officers having at least six months of service remaining before retirement.

Why the case matters

The Supreme Court’s decision could have implications beyond the appointment in question, particularly on how states frame rules for selecting their police chiefs and how those rules interact with the court’s directions and the UPSC’s role in the selection process.

The next hearing on September 7 is therefore expected to be closely watched in Jharkhand. The court’s observations could determine whether the present appointment and the state’s amended DGP selection framework withstand judicial scrutiny.