VPP questions delay in appointing DGP

Shillong, Oct 15 (NPN): Meghalaya’s opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) has criticized the state government’s continued delays in sending a proposal to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), stalling the Empanelment Committee Meeting (ECM) required to select the state’s next Director General of Police (DGP).
In a statement issued Thursday, VPP spokesperson Dr. Airpeace Well Rani said a September 24, 2026 letter from the UPSC to Chief Secretary Dr. Shakil P. Ahammed, marked “Reminder-II”, indicated that the Commission had previously requested the proposal.
According to Rani, the UPSC letter noted that the state’s proposal was still awaited, despite an initial communication on May 14 and a follow-up reminder on August 5.
In light of the prolonged delay, UPSC Under Secretary Sanjay Kumar issued a fresh reminder to the Chief Secretary to enforce strict compliance with the Supreme Court’s directions.
The directive urges the immediate submission of the proposal to convene the ECM and prepare the candidate panel for appointment to the post of DGP, Head of Police Force (HoPF).
Kumar reiterated that while the state government had been requested to submit the proposal in a timely manner, it has yet to do so.
Slamming the state government’s inaction despite repeated UPSC communications, Rani said the VPP demanded to know if the delay was caused by administrative incompetence or a deliberate lack of urgency.
“Is this merely administrative inefficiency, a lack of urgency, or is there some other reason for the delay? The people of Meghalaya deserve a clear and convincing explanation,” the VPP demanded.
Emphasising that appointing the state’s police chief is a matter of considerable public importance, Rani stated that the issue directly impacts the leadership of the police force, institutional accountability, and the effective functioning of law enforcement.
“Such a process cannot be allowed to remain pending without a satisfactory explanation, particularly when the UPSC has explicitly referred to compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court,” the VPP Spokesperson observed.
Rani said the VPP demanded that the state government clarify the reasons for this prolonged delay, disclose the present status of the proposal, and explain what action has been taken to ensure compliance with the applicable legal and procedural requirements.