Bhubaneswar, Aug.7 (UDN): The process to appoint Odisha’s next Director General of Police (DGP) has entered its final stage, with the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Selection Committee scheduled to meet in New Delhi on Friday to prepare the final shortlist of candidates.
The high-level meeting, to be chaired by the UPSC Chairman, is being held in accordance with the Supreme Court’s guidelines for the appointment of state police chiefs. Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg and the incumbent DGP, Y. B. Khurania, are expected to participate in the selection process.
The meeting comes ahead of the completion of Y. B. Khurania’s tenure on August 16, after which the state will have a new police chief.
Earlier, the Odisha government had submitted a panel of 11 senior IPS officers to the UPSC for consideration. After reviewing their service records, experience and eligibility, the committee will prepare a three-member panel.
The shortlisted names will then be sent to the Odisha government, which will make the final appointment by selecting one officer from the UPSC-recommended panel.
Among the senior IPS officers considered to be in contention are Sudhanshu Sarangi, R. P. Koche, Sanjeeb Panda and Sushant Nath. While seniority remains an important criterion, the final recommendation will also take into account the officers’ service record and suitability for leading the Odisha Police.
The outcome of Friday’s meeting is expected to provide clarity on who will be in the final race for the state’s top police post, with the new DGP likely to assume office soon after the incumbent demits office.