Supreme Court demands audit of state police chief appointment rules

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued directions to the Union government to submit a comprehensive account of state legislation and administrative policies that conflict with its prescribed framework for appointing police chiefs. This step comes as part of the court's ongoing efforts to standardise police leadership selection across the country.

The apex court's guidelines stipulate that only officers with at least six months of remaining service are eligible for consideration as director general of police, a position of significant authority in India's law enforcement hierarchy. The requirement aims to ensure continuity in police administration and allow newly appointed chiefs adequate time to implement their vision and policies.

The directive underscores the Supreme Court's commitment to enforcing uniform standards in police administration across India's federal structure. States have previously adopted varying criteria and procedures for DGP selection, leading to inconsistencies that prompted the court's intervention.

The Centre has been given the responsibility of compiling information on all divergent state practices and presenting them before the court. This data is expected to facilitate further judicial oversight and potentially lead to additional directives ensuring all states align their appointment procedures with the Supreme Court's established norms.