Supreme Court to hear Centre's challenge to Jharkhand DGP appointments

A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, will hear the Centre's petition against the Jharkhand Police Department's appointments. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared before the bench to request that both the substantive petition and an accompanying contempt plea be scheduled for hearing.

The development marks an escalation in the ongoing dispute between the Union government and the Jharkhand state administration over the appointment process for the state's top police post. The Centre has questioned the legitimacy of the DGP appointments made by the state, citing procedural concerns and alleged violations of established norms.

The filing of a contempt petition alongside the main plea suggests the Centre may be alleging that prior court orders or directives regarding the appointment process have been disregarded. Such contentions typically strengthen the urgency of judicial intervention in administrative matters.

The Supreme Court's acceptance of the plea indicates the matter has cleared the threshold for judicial review. The timing of the hearings and the bench's approach to the twin petitions could significantly influence how senior police appointments are conducted in Jharkhand going forward.