A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, will hear a petition related to the appointment of the Director General of Police (DGP) in Tamil Nadu. The petition seeks contempt proceedings against the Tamil Nadu government for appointing G. Venkataraman as the DGP/head of the police force on August 31. This contempt petition was filed by Madurai-based advocate Henry Tifagne, represented by advocate Prasanna S.
The petition states that the appointment of an acting or additional DGP violates the Supreme Court’s 2018 judgment in the Prakash Singh case. The judgment stipulated that a state governmentin, anticipation of the vacancy, must send a proposal to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) at least three months before the retirement of the incumbent DGP .
The petition states that the Tamil Nadu government has not yet sent such a proposal to the UPSC within the three-month timeframe. Furthermore, the petition states that the Supreme Court had clearly directed that “no state should even consider appointing anyone to the post of DGP on an acting basis.”
The petition stated, “However, contrary to this, the Tamil Nadu government, through Police Circular No. SC/19/2025 dated August 31, 2025, appointed IPS G. Venkatesan as the DGP/Head of the Police Force of Tamil Nadu upon the retirement of IPS Shankar Jiwal. This is a clear and deliberate act by the state in violation of the court order.”
