By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Yet another change of Director General of Police is in the offing with the Government hurriedly passing the Meghalaya Police (Amendment) Bill, 2013 in the Assembly on Thursday without any protest from the Opposition.
The Bill will empower the Government to debar eligible State police officers, who are serving under Central and State governments in the rank and pay of Director General of Police, from becoming DGP of Meghalaya.
“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 the inclusion in the panel again,” the Amendment said.
With the Government passing the controversial bill, DG (Prisons) Kulbir Krishan who is availing the pay and the rank of DG (Police) will be prevented from becoming the State police chief.
Home Minister Roshan Warjri moved the Bill and subsequently it was passed without any objections from the Opposition members.
However, the move is in violation of the IPS rules which state that the Government should select police officials who enjoy the rank and pay of DGPs to be appointed as the State DGP.
The IPS pay rule 2008, note 2 says, “Post of Director General of Police in the apex scale shall be filled by selection from among the officers holding the post of Director General of Police in the state cadre in the Higher Administrative Grade (HAG) plus scale.”
There are indications that the Government may appoint Rajiv Mehta, who is on deputation to the Government of India and has the rank and pay of additional DGP, to the post of Meghalaya DGP.
Mehta is currently holding the post of DG (Narcotics) in New Delhi.
Another choice is the Director of North East Police Academy, AK Mathur, whose rank and pay is also that of Additional DGP.
Sources said that considering the frequent change of stand of the Government, the present DGP, Prem Singh, is reluctant to continue in the post.
It was in February, just prior to the Assembly elections, that the Election Commission had removed Krishan and appointed Singh as the DGP.
The Government amended the Meghalaya Police Act, 2010, adding a new provision which says, “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.”
The Amendment also says that “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.