12. Supreme Court Flags Ad-hoc Appointment of DGPs

Background The Supreme Court has expressed concern over States continuing the practice of ad-hoc Director General of Police (DGP) appointments, undermining police reforms. Key Issues • States bypass fixed-tenure DGP appointments, violating the Prakash Singh (2006) judgment.• UPSC empanelment process is frequently ignored. • Preference for acting DGPs enables greater political control. • The Court empowered the UPSC to report noncompliance directly. Value Addition • Ad-hoc appointments weaken police autonomy and professionalism. • Undermines rule of law and public confidence in policing institutions. • Highlights persistent resistance to structural governance reforms. Key Definition • Fixed Tenure: A guaranteed minimum service period to ensure institutional independence. Constitutional Provision • Article 142: Supreme Court’s power to pass orders to ensure complete justice. Conclusion Despite judicial mandates, police reforms remain unfinished, affecting governance and internal security. UPSC Relevance • GS-2: Governance, police reforms, internal security