J'khand first state without police chief for 2 days now: Marandi

Time of India

02-05-2025

Ranchi: State BJP president and leader of the opposition in the assembly,
Babulal Marandi
, on Friday launched a scathing attack on the JMM-led govt over the absence of a "constitutional"
director general of police
(DGP) in Jharkhand for the last two days.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Marandi made his comment as DGP Anurag Gupta superannuated on April 30. However, as no new name has been announced for the post, Gupta continues to serve in the position.
Addressing the media at the BJP office here on Friday, the state BJP chief said perhaps Jharkhand is the only and first state in the country's history, which is running for two days without a police chief. "Not only the DGP's post, but the positions of DGP for the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) and criminal investigation department (CID) are also lying vacant," Marandi said.
Notably, Gupta was appointed DGP by the state govt through a new rule on Feb 2 this year for two years. However, the Union home ministry, in a letter to the Jharkhand chief secretary on April 22, said the DGP's appointment made under the new rule was not consistence with the prevalent appointment guidelines and also contrary to the directions laid down by the Supreme Court in the Prakash Singh case.
The letter further said, "… an IPS officer shall superannuate at the age of 60.
Extension of service beyond superannuation is granted only by the central govt or a two-year tenure, irrespective of the superannuation, is given to the DGP of the state appointed through the procedure laid down by the Supreme Court in the Prakash Singh case. However, in the present case, the central govt has not granted extension of service to Anurag Gupta, IPS, who is due to superannuate on April 30, 2025."
Referring to the letter, Marandi said the directives being issued by Gupta as DGP were unconstitutional and alleged that the govt appointed Gupta as DGP for its political benefits.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
"According to the All India Service Rules, the govt is supposed to send a recommendation of a panel for the DGP's appointment to the UPSC, but the Jharkhand govt made its own rules. Despite knowing that Anurag Gupta would retire on April 30, the govt blatantly ignored all rules of the country and appointed him DGP on February 2. The appointment just two months before his retirement indicates that they are using their new rule that allows a DGP to remain in the position for at least two years for their political benefits," Marandi added.