Race for top police post hots up, present DGP keen on extension

The race for the next DGP is hotting up as the incumbent officer, Atul Verma, is retiring next month. Verma, a 1991 batch IPS officer, was appointed DGP on May 1, 2024, following the retirement of Sanjay Kundu. The government has given an extension to Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, so there is a buzz that Verma, too, is keen to have an extension.

The frontrunners for the top police post include Shyam Bhagat Negi of the 1990 batch and Ashok Tiwari of the 1993 batch. Sanjeev Ranjan Ojha, a 1989 batch officer, who is at present DGP (Jails), will also superannuate on May 31. Verma had superseded him.

There are three IPS officers, namely Anurag Garg, Ritwik Rudra and Ashok Tiwari, of the 1993 batch. At present, only Tiwari is serving in the state and the other two are on deputation to the Central Government. “The race is primarily between Negi and Tiwari as Ojha will retire on May 31. Moreover, Rudra and Garg are not keen to return to Himachal,” says a senior police officer.

Negi hails from Kinnaur district and is considered a strong contender for the top post. He is at present on a central deputation and it is to be seen whether he is preferred for the post. Oja is serving as DGP (prisons) and is due to retire on March 31 next year.

Tiwari\B, \Bwho is DGP (Vigilance),\B \Bhas a very long service and will retire on November 30, 2029. In the past, he has held important postings under the Congress regime, including Managing Director of the Himachal Roadways Transport Corporation (HRTC). Rudra will retire on July 31, 2029, while Garg will retire on July 31, 2027.

Interestingly, Verma had last year written to the state government to allow him a tenure of two years. He had cited a Supreme Court judgment and pleaded that it had been recommended that the DGP should have a term of minimum two years. The government has not responded to his request so far.

However, senior police officers dismiss Verma’s plea as illogical and unreasonable, as the court judgment is for serving IPS officers and not for people who retire before two years on the post.

Himachal Tribune