In a significant development concerning the appointment of Telangana's top police officer, the Telangana High Court has issued a firm directive to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The court has given the commission a four-week deadline to process the state government's proposal for selecting the Director General of Police (Head of Police Force).
Court's Directives and Dismissal of Key Plea
Justice Pulla Karthik, presiding over the case, delivered the order on Friday, January 10, 2026. The bench directed the UPSC to complete the selection process in strict compliance with the Supreme Court's landmark guidelines established in the Prakash Singh vs Union of India case. The commission must report its compliance by the next hearing date, which is set for February 5, 2026.
Simultaneously, the court dismissed an interlocutory application that sought the suspension of DGP (Coordination) B Shivadhar Reddy from his current role as the in-charge DGP. The petitioner, T Dhanagopal Rao, argued that Reddy's appointment was temporary and contravened Supreme Court rulings, which prohibit states from appointing a police chief on an acting basis. However, the judge declined to grant this relief, allowing Reddy to continue in his position for now.
Background of the Procedural Tussle
The legal dispute stems from the state government's efforts to appoint a permanent police chief. According to Advocate General A Sudershan Reddy, representing the Telangana government, the process was initiated in April 2025 by sending an initial proposal to the UPSC. However, the commission repeatedly returned the proposal, citing various deficiencies.
Following an earlier interim direction from the High Court, the state government rectified the pointed-out issues and sent a fresh list of shortlisted candidates to the UPSC on December 31, 2025. In a swift response, the UPSC returned the proposal the very next day, on January 1, 2026, stating it was still not aligned with the Supreme Court's directions. The commission had advised the state to seek clarification directly from the Supreme Court.
What Happens Next?
The High Court's order now mandates the UPSC to continue the process initiated by the Telangana government and finalize it within the stipulated four-week period. This brings a measure of urgency to a selection process that has been marked by back-and-forth communication between the state and the central commission.
The court's decision to keep the acting DGP in place while ordering an expedited selection process aims to balance administrative continuity with the imperative of following due procedure as mandated by the apex court. All eyes will now be on the UPSC's actions ahead of the February 5 compliance hearing.
