SC to hear Centre’s plea against appointment of Jharkhand DGP

The Supreme Court is set to hear more petitions regarding the appointment of Tadash Mishra as DGP allegedly in violation of Supreme Court directions. File | Photo credit: The Hindu

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Wednesday (October 7, 2026) agreed to urgently hear the Union government’s plea that the state of Jharkhand appoint Director Generals of Police (DGPs) despite a series of orders passed by the Supreme Court over the past 20 years.

The Union Government through the Ministry of Home Affairs also sought a judicial declaration that the “Selection and Appointment of Director General and Inspector General of Police, Jharkhand (Chief of Police) Order 2025” will be declared ultra vires Supreme Court’s Prakash Singh Versus Union of India judgment of 2006. 2006 was the most transparent judgment for appointment of DGP. state police officers and a minimum two-year term of office in an effort to rid the police of political influence.

The Center pointed to the appointment of Anurag Gupta and Tadasha Mishra as Jharkhand DGPs on the basis of “this ultra vires order”, allegedly in violation of the Prakash Singh judgment.

“Both the regulations made by the State of Jharkhand and the appointments made thereunder are invalid in law as they are inconsistent with the existing rules and are contrary to the specific directions issued by the Supreme Court,” the petition said.

The petition sought to direct the state of Jharkhand to comply with the Prakash Singh judgment and further declared the appointment of the DGP under the 2025 order as illegal.

Published – 07 Oct 2026 18:17 IST