Supreme Court permits Tamil Nadu to revise selection panel and send new DGP list in three weeks

CHENNAI: The Supreme Court has permitted Tamil Nadu govt to revise the empanelment committee for the DGP post in the state, by adding an alternate DGP-rank officer, and submit a fresh proposal containing eligible officers’ names to be appointed as the head of the police force in the state.

The first bench comprising the Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M Pancholi granted the relief on Thursday, considering the peculiar situation prevailing in the state, where the current DGP in-charge is also a candidate for the top post.


The court then directed the state to revise the panel, submit a fresh proposal and complete the exercise within three weeks, in accordance with the court’s directives for the selection and appointment of the DGP.

The empanelment panel comprises the chairperson of the UPSC, the Union home secretary, the state chief secretary, the current state DGP and an officer from amongst the heads of CPOs/CPMFs not belonging to the cadre for which selection is being made, nominated by the Union home ministry.

Representing Tamil Nadu, senior advocate P Wilson submitted that the selection committee, comprising five members for the selection of the DGP, was constituted in accordance with the directions in the Prakash Singh case and included two representatives from the state govt, namely the DGP and the chief secretary.

Since Venkataraman, the present DGP in-charge, was also a candidate under consideration, the Tamil Nadu govt requested the UPSC, by its letter dated Sept 17, 2025, to substitute the home secretary, who is at the rank of additional chief secretary, in his place. However, the UPSC rejected the request on Sept 22, 2025, Wilson said.

He further contended that a new committee should be constituted with two representatives from the state to ensure that its interests are properly protected. The court-appointed amicus curiae and senior advocate Raju Ramachandran also concurred with the submissions of the state.