The Supreme Court has granted permission to Tamil Nadu to appoint an officer of higher rank and status than the DGP, such as Additional Chief Secretary, as an alternate to join the Chief Secretary in the UPSC empanelment committee. | Photo credit: FILE PHOTO
The Supreme Court on Thursday emphasized that Tamil Nadu must have full and proper representation in the Union Public Service Recruitment Commission (UPSC), which will recommend a proper police chief for the state.
The order of the Bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, ensured that the representation of states was not undermined in the selection of their police chiefs charged with maintaining law and order. The committee consists of the UPSC Chairman or his nominee, the Union Home Minister or his nominee, the Chief Secretary of the concerned State, the Acting DGP and an officer nominated by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
In the case of Tamil Nadu, the last regular DGP, Shankar Jiwal, retired on August 31 last year. The state has appointed G. Venkataraman as the in-charge DGP. However, Mr Venkataraman is also one of the candidates running for the post. Tamil Nadu wrote to the UPSC to allow the Additional Chief Secretary to take the DGP’s place in the empaneled committee as Mr. Venkataraman could not sit on the selection committee when he himself was a candidate in the count.
The UPSC rejected the state’s request and convened a meeting in September last year, which Mr Venkataraman did not attend on the principle that “no one can be a judge in his own case”, although the chief secretary attended.
Represented by senior advocate P. Wilson and advocate Sabarish Subramanium, she challenged the UPSC stand in her plea before the Tamil Nadu High Court.
Mr. Wilson argued that the UPSC’s refusal to accommodate the alternative choice of the next chief secretary deprived Tamil Nadu of its rightful number of representatives on the committee.
The court agreed with Tamil Nadu that the seat of the DGP in the panel should not remain vacant merely because the incumbent DGP was also a candidate in the consideration zone. “Such a situation cannot lead to a reduction in the representation of Tamil Nadu in the selection committee. Like the states, Tamil Nadu is also entitled to two representatives – the Chief Secretary and the Deputy DGP (Mr. Venkataraman),” observed Chief Justice Surya Kant.
The bench granted permission to Tamil Nadu to appoint an officer of higher rank and status than the DGP, such as an additional chief secretary, as an alternate to join the chief secretary in the committee.
“The power of the State to represent in the selection of the DGP cannot be curtailed by rejecting the request that the Additional Chief Secretary/Home Ministry of this Government attend the empaneled committee meeting as a member in place of the Director General of Police,” Tamil Nadu’s application said.
Published – 12 February 2026 22:40 IST