SC to Hear Contempt Plea Against TN Over DGP Appointment on Sept 8

Rapid Summary

• A three-judge Supreme Court Bench, led by Chief Justice of India B.R. gavai, will hear a contempt petition on September 8 against the Tamil Nadu government for appointing G. Venkatraman as acting Director General of Police (DGP) on August 31.
• The contempt petition was filed by Madurai-based lawyer Henri Tiphagne, represented by advocate Prasanna S., alleging violation of a 2018 Supreme Court judgment in the Prakash Singh case that mandates specific procedures for appointing DGPs.
• The judgment requires states to send proposals to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) at least three months before a DGP vacancy arises and explicitly prohibits ad-hoc or interim appointments to this post.
• The petitioner pointed out that Tamil Nadu had not followed this timeline in initiating its proposal and made an interim appointment despite court instructions disallowing such practices.

Indian Opinion Analysis
This legal challenge highlights the broader issue of adherence to procedural guidelines established by the judiciary for DGP appointments-a matter critical for maintaining institutional independence and clarity in police administration across states. Failure to comply with these norms could erode public confidence in law enforcement autonomy and governance frameworks.For Tamil Nadu,resolving this dispute promptly as per prescribed processes will be essential to avoid further legal entanglements while ensuring accountability within its administrative ranks.

Read more: Published – September 07, 2025