By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Security Commission (SSC), in its first meeting held here on Thursday, approved the list of the five IPS officers who have been empanelled for appointment to the post of DGP of the State.
“We have approved the list of the five IPS officers who have been empanelled for appointment as the DGP,” Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma, who is also the chairman of the SSC, told reporters on Thursday.
The five IPS officers shortlisted are DG (Prison) Kulbir Krishan (1976 batch), acting DGP Prem Singh (1977 batch), Subhash Goswami (1977 batch), Jayanto Narayan Choudhury and N Ramachandran (both 1978 batch).
Dr Sangma said the Government would appoint a full-fledged DGP from among the officers who have been empanelled.
As per the Meghalaya Police Act, a full-fledged DGP should be appointed from among the empanelled officers whose remaining tenure of service is not less than one year.
Commenting that the Government was aware of the urgency of this matter, the Chief Minister said the appointment would be made at the earliest.
Dr Sangma dismissed queries on whether the Government was planning to appoint N Ramachandran as the State DGP, saying, “The Government only received the list today. We will take a final call on this later”.
It may be recalled that Prem Singh has been the acting DGP following the retirement of SB Kakati as the State DGP on January 31.
To a question on the tradition of bypassing seniority in the appointment of DGP, the Chief Minister said that the letter and spirit of the Meghalaya Police Act would be respected.
Meanwhile Dr Sangma also informed that the State Security Commission would meet once every month to discuss issues relating to police reforms.
Besides Dr Sangma, the other members of the State Security Commission include Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh, Leader of Opposition Conrad K Sangma, Chief Secretary WMS Pariat, Principal Secretary (Home) KS Kropha and two independent members — former Chief Secretary Peter J Bazely and senior lawyer VGK Kynta.