Tue Nov 05 05:55:31 UTC 2024: ## Uttar Pradesh Introduces New DGP Selection Process, Sparking Political Controversy
**Lucknow, November 5, 2024:** The Uttar Pradesh cabinet has approved new guidelines for the selection and appointment of the state’s police chief, replacing the previous system of sending names to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for selection.
The “Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh Selection and Appointment Rules, 2024” aim to create a “transparent and independent” mechanism for selecting the DGP, free from “political or executive interference.”
The selection committee will be chaired by a retired High Court judge and will include members such as the Chief Secretary, a UPSC nominee, the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) chairman or nominee, the Home Department additional chief secretary or principal secretary, and a retired State DGP.
Candidates must have at least six months of service remaining before the DGP vacancy arises, with officers currently serving as Director Generals (DG) at Level 16 of the pay matrix eligible for consideration. The DGP’s minimum tenure will be two years.
The new rules have sparked controversy, with Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav accusing the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of attempting to seize control from Delhi, calling it “Delhi vs Lucknow 2.0.” Yadav alleged the decision aims to extend the tenure of a specific senior officer, while questioning the Chief Minister’s own tenure.
The new guidelines are expected to streamline the DGP selection process and provide greater autonomy to the state in appointing its police chief. However, the political reactions highlight the sensitive nature of the decision and its potential impact on the state’s political landscape.
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