The governor’s administration on Wednesday appointed Dilbag Singh (IPS) as Director General of Police.The 1987-batch IPS officer, Dilbag Singh has also asked to hold additional charge of the post of Director General of Police (prisons) till further orders and Director Fire and Emergency services, J&K, till December 31.On September 6 , the governor’s administration had appointed Dilbag Singh as the acting police chief. Singh replaced S P Vaid, who was posted as transport commissioner.The name of Singh, a 1987-batch IPS officer, was cleared by the State Administrative Council headed by Governor Satyapal Malik here. A panel of three names for the post was submitted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) last week. The Supreme Court on September 20 had made it clear that Singh will continue in office till the UPSC scrutinises and provides a panel of three police officers for regular appointment of the police chief.
Before Vaid Shunted, the High Court had dismissed a plea, challenging his appointment as Director General of Police, observing that seniority was not the sole criterion for appointment of a top police officer of the Jammu and Kashmir.“The post of the Director General of Police is a selection post, the appointment to which is made amongst the officers holding the post of Director General of Police as is made abundantly clear by Note 2 attached to Sub-rule 2 to Rule 3. Even if, for the same argument, it is assumed, but not conceded, that it is a promotional post, it has to be a promotion by selection for which seniority is not the sole criterion,” the court said. Separately, V K Singh (IPS), Special Director General of Police (headquarters) has been transferred and posted as Commandant General, Home Guards, Civil Defence and SDRF, J&K.Also a 1987-batch officer, V K Singh has been additionally asked to hold the charge of the post of Director Fire and Emergency Service J&K from January 1. (GNS)