Who Will Be Odisha’s Next DGP? Selection Row Reaches Supreme Court

By Sunil Jena
Editor-in-Chief, The Politics Odia

Bhubaneswar: The race for Odisha’s next Director General of Police has turned into a political and legal controversy, with questions being raised over the seniority list, the selection panel and the process being followed by the state government.

The appointment of the next police chief has become particularly significant as the government moves towards the UPSC selection process. What was expected to be a routine administrative appointment has now become a matter of public debate.

The controversy intensified after the state government promoted 1994-batch IPS officers Sanjeeb Panda and Yashwant Jethwa to the rank of DGP. Their elevation changed the equation for the selection of the next police chief.

Earlier, the names of Sudhanshu Sarangi, Sushant Nath and R.P. Koche were reportedly among the senior officers being considered. The subsequent changes to the list have raised questions about why some names were removed and why others were added.

Sanjeeb Panda is now being widely discussed as one of the leading contenders for the post.

But the controversy is not limited to the names of the officers in the race.

The matter has also reached the Supreme Court, where a public interest litigation has challenged aspects of the selection process. Senior advocate P. Chidambaram is representing the petitioner.

At the centre of the legal debate is the Supreme Court’s earlier framework governing the appointment of state police chiefs. The petition has questioned whether the process followed by Odisha is consistent with the principles laid down in the Prakash Singh judgment and subsequent directions.

One of the key questions is whether the panel sent to the UPSC contains officers who meet the required eligibility criteria for consideration as DGP.

Another question is whether an officer who was previously serving at the ADG level can be brought into the race through promotion immediately before the selection process.

The government’s decision to promote Sanjeeb Panda and Yashwant Jethwa to the DGP rank has therefore attracted particular attention.

The controversy has also raised questions about the repeated changes in the list sent by the state government.

Reports indicate that an earlier list was sent to the Centre and that another list containing DGP- and ADGP-level officers was subsequently forwarded. The process reportedly faced objections before the government revised its approach.

This has led to an obvious political question: is the government simply following administrative procedure, or is it trying to create a panel that favours a particular officer?

The government, however, will have to answer that question through the process and documents rather than political statements.

The appointment of a DGP is not merely about choosing the most senior officer. The police chief is responsible for leading the state police force at a time when law and order, cybercrime, organised crime, public safety and policing reforms are increasingly important.

That is why transparency in the selection process matters.

The Supreme Court’s intervention could therefore become an important moment in the entire controversy. If the court finds that the selection process does not comply with the established guidelines, the government may have to revisit its panel.

On the other hand, if the process is found to be legally compliant, the government will have a clearer path towards appointing the next police chief.

For Odisha, the bigger issue is not simply whether Sanjeeb Panda, Yashwant Jethwa or another senior IPS officer becomes the next DGP.

The real question is whether the appointment will be seen as transparent, merit-based and consistent with the rules laid down by the Supreme Court.

The next few days could therefore be crucial for the Odisha Police leadership.

The DGP chair is now at the centre of an unusual contest involving seniority, promotions, the UPSC process and judicial scrutiny.

And until the legal and administrative questions are settled, the question will remain open:

Who will actually become Odisha’s next police chief?

Sunil Jena’s Observation:

The DGP appointment should ultimately be decided through a transparent and legally compliant process. Political speculation will continue as long as questions remain over the seniority list and the selection panel. The Supreme Court’s view on the process could therefore have a significant bearing on who finally takes charge of the Odisha Police.

Author Profile

Sunil Jena: Sunil Jena is the Editor of The Politics Odia, an independent digital platform that delivers fearless political analysis, ground reports, and investigative stories from Odisha. Known for bold storytelling and grassroots connections, Sunil is shaping a new era of regional journalism.