SC Refuses to Interfere With Jammu and Kashmir’s DGP Appointment

Former Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Shesh Paul Vaid.

(File Photo: IANS)

The Supreme Court on Tuesday, 11 September, refused to interfere with the Jammu and Kashmir government appointing an acting Director General of Police (DGP).

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud issued a notice and sought a reply from the Centre on Jammu and Kashmir's plea seeking a modification of an earlier order on acting DGPs.

The state government on 6 September appointed Dilbagh Singh as acting police chief, replacing SP Vaid who was posted as transport commissioner.

During the hearing, Attorney General KK Venugopal, who appeared for the Centre, said the prohibition to appoint an acting DGP was introduced to prevent misuse of the two-year fixed tenure given in an earlier verdict of the apex court.

Advocate Shoeb Alam, appearing for Jammu and Kashmir, said the appointment of an acting DGP was purely an interim measure to tide over the peculiar situation till a regular appointment was made in consultation with the UPSC.

"We cannot afford the police force to be without a chief," he said, citing the law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir.