Chandigarh [India], October 1 (ANI): The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Punjab Government to appoint a regular Director General of Police (DGP) in accordance with the Supreme Court's directions and asked the Chief Secretary to file a compliance affidavit by the next date of hearing on October 13, 2026.
The direction came during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Advocate Nikhil Thamman, who submitted that Punjab has not had a regular DGP for more than four years.
The petition referred to the Supreme Court's judgment in the Prakash Singh vs Union of India case and the directions regarding the appointment of a regular DGP. The petitioner submitted that the Supreme Court's directions provide for the appointment of a DGP from a panel recommended by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
According to Thamman, the UPSC panel had already been received by the Punjab Government in the first week of July, but the appointment had not been made.
During the hearing, the Punjab Government informed the High Court that the panel recommended by the UPSC was under consideration.
Following the submissions, the High Court directed the Punjab Government to appoint a regular DGP and directed the Chief Secretary to place a compliance affidavit on record by the next date of hearing.
Speaking to reporters, Thamman said, "The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed that immediately a regular DGP be appointed by the government. And the Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab, has been directed that by the next date of hearing, which is October 13, 2026, a compliance affidavit be filed in the court that, in compliance with today's directions, we have appointed a regular DGP."
He further said that if the appointment is not made by October 13, he would file a contempt petition against the Chief Secretary.
The matter will next be heard on October 13, 2026. (ANI)
Punjab and Haryana HC directs Punjab govt to appoint regular DGP, seeks compliance affidavit
