Who is going to be the DGP of Punjab Police on September 5,2022?
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
Punjab government, Punjab police top brass are in dilemma, as the two-month leave of Punjab director general of police (DGP) VK Bhawra set to end on September 4. Now, all eyes are now on the next move of the officer-if he is going to extend his leave or is going to join his posting, after the expiry of two months leave on September 4,2022
Bhawra was appointed as DGP Punjab during previous Channi government on the day when model code of conduct had come into force on January 8.Out of the ten names forwarded by the state government his name was cleared by the UPSC for the post of DGP, Punjab Police.
DGP
The Punjab Government was unhappy with Bhawra over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, especially after the murder of Punjabi Singer Sidhu Moosewala, which eventually led to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s defeat in the Sangrur Lok Sabha.
A 1987-batch office, VK Bhawra, was asked to proceed on leave by the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab after which the incumbent Gaurav Yadav, special DGP (administration) was appointed as the officiating DGP Punjab.
Who is going to be the DGP of Punjab Police on September 5,2022? As, till date VK Bhawra has not open his cards- he is joining back or going to extend his leave.
Later, Bhawra had applied for Central deputation. . He wrote a letter in this regard to the Punjab government and Union home ministry, offering to avail himself of a posting at the Centre.
Till date, the centre government has not taken any decision on his request “ available for Central deputation”.
Earlier, former DGP Dinkar Gupta had also gone on leave after the Capt Amarinder Singh was removed as chief minister by the congress government, in September 2021. He had also applied for the Central deputation. But, the centre government appointed him DGP NIA in June 2022, after nine months.
As of now, the Punjab government hasn’t sent any names to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) panel to appoint the next DGP of Punjab, after Bhawara decided to move on for central deputation.
The state government wants to retain Gaurav Yadav as the DGP because of his performance as officiating head of the police force.
However, it is not sure if his name will figure in the panel to be sent back by UPSC to state government as Yadav, a 1992-batch IPS, is still junior to at least seven officers-1987-batch Dinkar Gupta (on central deputation), VK Bhawra (present DGP but opted for central deputation), 1988 batch Prabodh Kumar,1989 batch Sanjeev Kalra , Parag Jain (Parag Jain is already on central deputation) and his own batchmates of 1992 batch Sharad Satya Chauhan and Harpreet Singh Sidhu. Another senior officer to him IPS Sahota (1988 batch) is going to retire, today August 31,2022
But, the state government wants to continue with him as officiating DGP for a few more months, as he managed to bring back normalcy in the state in such a short period and his actions in the field have created a positive perception about the Punjab government among the public.
It is no secret that Gaurav Yadav also enjoys close-proximity with the AAP rank and file as he is a batchmate of AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal.
August 31,2022
