By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The senior police officials from Assam-Meghalaya cadre, who are serving under Central and state governments in the rank and pay of Meghalaya Director General of Police will be prevented from the appointment as State DGP if the Government passes an amendment to the Meghalaya Police Bill which was introduced in the House on Friday.
The Home Minister Roshan Warjri introduced the Meghalaya Police (Amendment) Bill 2013 in the Assembly to stop top police officials from being included in the panel as eligible candidates for the post of DGP, if they enjoy the rank and pay of DGP in their various assignments.
This will mean that if the Bill is passed, the senior police officials, PJP Haneman, (deputation to Government of India), DG (prisons) Kulbir Krishan and B. Kezo (deputation to Nagaland ) who are serving in the rank and pay of DGP will be barred from appointment to the post of DG Police in Meghalaya.
However, another police official, Rajiv Mehta, who is on deputation to Government of India will be eligible for the post since he has rank and pay of additional DG despite being posted as DG (Narcotics) in New Delhi.
Sources said that the move of the Government is aimed at appointing Mehta as the next Meghalaya DGP after removing the present DGP Prem Singh, who was appointed after the Election Commission of India removed Krishan prior to the Assembly elections in February .
In the proposed Bill, the Government wanted to add the provision which said that “the name of any officer, who has been appointed to a post either under the Central Government or any State Government in the rank and pay of Director General of Police, shall not be considered for inclusion in the subsequent panels to be prepared by the State Security Commission”.
According to the proposed amendment, “the validity of the panel of names prepared shall expire immediately after the panel has been utilized for appointment of a Director General of Police”.
The Meghalaya Police Act, 2010 has been in force in the State for the last two years. According to the Government, during the course of implementation of the Act, it was found that additional provisions need to be incorporated to bring about more clarity in its interpretation.
“Therefore it is considered necessary to specify that when a panel for selection of officers to the post of Director General of Police is recommended by the State Security Commission and such panel has been utilized for appointment of Director General of Police, the validity of the panel so prepared and utilized will expire”, the Government said citing the reason for introducing the amended Bill.
“Should an eventuality arise for appointment for a new Director General of Police, a fresh panel will need to be prepared”, the Government said.
The Home Department also said that once an officer (otherwise eligible for consideration) is appointed to a post in the rank and pay of Director General of Police anywhere, he should not be considered for inclusion in the panel again.