The Punjab Assembly has recently passed two significant bills aimed at reforming the selection and appointment process for the Director General of Police (DGP) in the state. The bills, namely the Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill 2023 and the Punjab Police Rules Amendment Bill 2023, aim to establish an independent and transparent mechanism for selecting the DGP while reducing political and executive interference.
According to the Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill, the selection of the state DGP will now be conducted by a committee headed by a retired chief justice or judge from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. This empanelment committee will prepare a panel of three senior-most officers from which the DGP will be appointed. The selected officer will serve a minimum tenure of two years, ensuring stability in the leadership position.
The primary objective of the bill is to ensure that the appointment of the DGP is free from political and executive influence. The proponents argue that matters related to "public order" and "police" fall within the exclusive domain of the states as per the Constitution of India. Therefore, the bill seeks to establish a proper mechanism for the selection, appointment, and removal of the DGP, taking into consideration the unique challenges faced by the border state of Punjab.
Opposition parties have raised concerns about the government's intentions, alleging that the bill aims to regularize the current acting DGP, Gaurav Yadav, whom they consider to be a "puppet" of the Bhagwant Mann-led government. Currently, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has yet to recommend a panel of officers for DGP appointment through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), as mandated by a Supreme Court judgment. By passing the bill, the government seeks to enable Yadav to continue serving as the DGP.
The Punjab Police Rules Amendment Bill grants the government the authority to appoint the DGP, deviating from the requirement of involving the UPSC, as directed by the Supreme Court in 2018. Under the new criteria, a six-member empanelment committee will be formed, chaired by a retired Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The committee will shortlist three senior-most officers for consideration, from which the government will make the appointment. The DGP will have a fixed tenure of two years, but in case of early relief, the state government can assign the additional charge to another officer of their choice.
While the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) opposed the amendments, citing deviation from the Supreme Court's procedure, former DGP Prakash Singh, who played a crucial role in police reforms, stated that the government had the power to enact its own law for the selection and appointment of the DGP. Singh clarified that the Supreme Court had only mandated involving the UPSC until the state government enacted its own law.
These bills mark a significant step towards ensuring an independent and transparent process for appointing the DGP in Punjab. The reforms aim to strengthen the police force and maintain public confidence in the law enforcement system while minimizing external influences on the selection and appointment of the top police officer.
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