Bihar DGP Appointment Stalled: Gangwar and Srinivasan's Claims Delay UPSC List, Plan-B Activated

The appointment of the next Director General of Police (DGP) in Bihar has run into a complex administrative deadlock. The state government has temporarily suspended the process of sending a panel of eligible and senior-most IPS officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Without this formal list, the commission cannot initiate the formal procedure to shortlist the final trio of candidates for the top police job.

Adherence to Supreme Court Guidelines

According to the established guidelines of the Supreme Court, the process of appointing a state police chief requires meticulous adherence. The state government is mandated to prepare a shortlist of senior IPS officers based on their seniority, record, and remaining tenure, which is then forwarded to the UPSC.

Upon receiving the dossier, a panel consisting of UPSC and police representatives scrutinizes the names and returns a final list of three officers to the state administration. The state government is then free to select any one of them as the state's top cop. However, the current stalemate in Bihar has stalled the very first step of this mandatory process.

Following the voluntary retirement (VRS) of former DGP Vinay Kumar, the crucial post has remained vacant, with 1991-batch IPS officer Preeta Verma currently discharging duties as the acting DGP. The absence of a full-term chief has triggered discussions across political and bureaucratic circles.

The Clash of Senior Claims: Gangwar vs Srinivasan

Insiders reveal that the delay stems from a direct contest between two high-profile senior IPS officers. Initially, the state government was inclined toward 1993-batch officer Jitendra Singh Gangwar, who was serving on central deputation in New Delhi, and his name was reportedly being finalized for the coveted post.

However, the equation shifted dramatically when another senior officer, B. Srinivasan, who has also been on long-term central deputation, expressed his keen desire to return to Bihar and stake a claim for the DGP position.

"Administrative and high-level police appointments require a careful balance of seniority, merit, and prevailing operational requirements, which often takes time to navigate."— Administrative Source

This overlapping ambition from two heavyweights caught the administration off guard, leading to a temporary halt in finalizing the official submission to the central commission.

Looking Ahead: Plan-B and Administrative Resolution

With both officers asserting their eligibility, the state government has activated a 'Plan-B' to untangle the bureaucratic web. Legal and administrative experts are currently reviewing service records and central deputation guidelines to ensure the final decision remains legally impregnable.

As the state weighs its options, the administrative machinery continues to function under interim leadership. A final resolution regarding the dispatch of the panel to the UPSC is anticipated in the coming days, ending weeks of speculation within the police force.