Synopsis
A controversy has arisen over the appointment of Jharkhand's DGP. BJP President Babulal Marandi has accused the Hemant Soren government of violating Supreme Court mandates and bypassing UPSC guidelines in the selection process, alleging a misuse of police for political ends.Key Takeaways
- Ranchi is at the center of the DGP appointment dispute.
- BJP alleges violation of Supreme Court directives.
- Marandi claims new rules were enacted improperly.
- Appointment of Anurag Gupta raises concerns.
- BJP plans to pursue legal action.
Ranchi, Feb 5 (NationPress) A dispute has arisen regarding the selection of the Director General of Police (DGP) in Jharkhand. The President of the State BJP, Babulal Marandi, has accused the Hemant Soren administration of contravening Supreme Court mandates and ignoring UPSC protocols during the appointment process.
During a press briefing at the BJP's state headquarters on Wednesday, Marandi claimed that the state government hastily established a new regulation to appoint an IPS officer who is due to retire in April 2025, subsequently granting him an extension until April 2026.
He argued that such a regulation cannot be enacted via an executive order without legislative consent and that even the newly established rule was improperly implemented.
Referencing the 2006 Supreme Court ruling in Prakash Singh vs Union of India, Marandi stressed that a DGP should be selected from a panel endorsed by the UPSC. However, he asserted that the Hemant Soren government disregarded this requirement and appointed Anurag Gupta, who was not on the UPSC's recommended list.
Describing the appointment as a direct assault on the Constitution and judiciary, Marandi accused the administration of exploiting the police force for political aims.
The BJP leader further claimed that Anurag Gupta, a controversial figure, had faced a two-year suspension due to irregularities during elections.
He highlighted that the Election Commission had dismissed Gupta from his role during the elections in November last year and prohibited him from election responsibilities, yet the Soren government reinstated him as DGP shortly after.
“Has he been rewarded for manipulating the elections?” Marandi questioned.
He called on the Jharkhand High Court to take suo motu notice of the matter and pledged that the BJP would pursue the issue through legal and political channels.
A contempt petition has already been lodged with the Supreme Court against the State of Jharkhand for willful non-compliance with the directives issued by the court regarding the appointment of the DGP in the state.
