Telangana’s ‘acting’ police chief stays for now: HC sets 4-week deadline for UPSC in DGP row

The commission advised the state to approach the Supreme Court in the matter.

The Telangana High Court on Friday ordered the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to process the proposal of names recommended by the state government for appointment of the director general of police-head of police force (DGP-HOPF) and complete the same within four weeks.

Further, Justice Pulla Karthik also dismissed an interlocutory application seeking suspension of the appointment of DGP (coordination) B Shivadhar Reddy as the in-charge DGP. The commission was directed to report compliance during the next hearing on February 5.

Following the court’s interim direction earlier, the government had sent a list of shortlisted candidates to the UPSC on December 31, 2025, after rectifying the deficiencies pointed out by the commission in its earlier correspondence to the state. The court on Friday noted that the commission returned the proposal on January 1, 2026, stating that it was not in line with the Supreme Court directions. The commission advised the state to approach the Supreme Court in the matter.

In its order, the judge directed the commission “to complete the process in compliance with the SC directions in Prakash Singh vs Union of India case by continuing the process initiated by the state government and complete the same in four weeks and compliance be reported on the next date of hearing on February 5.”

The court further noted that it was not inclined to grant relief in the interlocutory application seeking the suspension of Reddy as in-charge DGP. The petitioner, T Dhanagopal Rao, requested the court to keep his interlocutory application pending or else the case would become infructuous. He reasoned that the appointment of Reddy was temporary and contrary to the Supreme Court rulings. The judge, however, declined the plea and adjourned the matter.

The writ petition was filed seeking the court’s directions to quash the appointment of Reddy as the acting DGP-HOPF in full-additional-charge on September 26, as it was in violation of the Supreme Court ruling that no state shall appoint a head of police force on an acting basis.

Advocate General A Sudershan Reddy, representing the state, had submitted that the process was started in April 2025 by sending a proposal to UPSC, and that the commission kept returning the proposal, citing deficiencies. The court heard the arguments from counsels representing the UPSC, union home ministry, the in-charge DGP and the petitioner before concluding the case with the directions.