Term of Delhi Police Commissioner Extended for One Month: MHA

The permission was granted after Union Home Mini wrote to EC. DCP Patnaik was set to retire on Friday, 31 January.

File image of Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik.

(Photo Courtesy: YouTube Screengrab)

The term of Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik has been extended for a period of one month beyond his date of superannuation on Friday, 31 January.

This, after Election Commission (EC) on Thursday, 30 January, gave its nod for extension, in light of the Assembly polls in the national capital. The permission was granted after the Union Home Ministry wrote to the EC to this effect.

Election Commission has allowed the Home Ministry to extend the tenure of Patnaik till February end, an official from the ministry said.

The 1985-batch officer of AGMUT cadre was to retire on Friday. Patnaik was appointed the Delhi Police Chief in January 2017.

As Delhi is poll-bound, the Election Commission's permission is needed for new appointment or extension in service of key government officials.

Delhi will go to polls on 8 February and the counting of votes is scheduled to be held on 11 February.