Himachal Government has virtually started a hunt for the new DGP of the state to find a suitable replacement for the incumbent top cop B Kamal Kumar who is to retire in July this year.
However, what has increased the problems of the state Government is that there is no other officer fulfilling the mandatory criteria of 30-years of service to occupy the top job.
IPS officer of the 1982 batch, Kumar is to retire in July this year but with no replacement available in the state, the Government has been forced to look for different options. Three senior police officers next-in-line of seniority of Kumar fall short of the mandatory criteria of 30-years of police service.
Next to Kumar in seniority is Somesh Goyal, a 1984 batch IPS officer but currently on central deputation at Shashtra Seema Bal (SSB), New Delhi followed by Sanjay Kumar a 1985 batch IPS officer also on central deputation with Northern Central Railways at Patna and Sita Ram Mardi, a 1986 batch IPS officer currently holding charge of Additional Director General of police (Crime Investigation Department).
Anticipating the situation, state Government had ordered for repatriation of Sanjay Kumar in the state. Government’s decision to repatriate Sanjay Kumar had fuelled speculations that he is likely to succeed B Kamal Kumar who was made DGP replacing ID Bhandhari- a 1982 batch police officer who was removed following the mass scale illegal phone tapping row.
Bhandhari is currently posted as DG Home Guards and fire services department. He has three more years of service left but he is being considered out of race as he was removed from the post by the current government.
On the other hand, Sanjay Kumar himself had shown keen interest to return to state and has communicated his wish to the top echelons of power corridor. Sources said that race has gone interesting as Somesh Goyal has also met several Congress leaders in Delhi and has wished to return to the state.
The thirty year condition has put the state government in a fix and possibility is being looked to seek relaxation of thirty year rider from central government which has been given many a times to smaller states of North East.
Sources said that the possibility of appointing a DGP from other state cadres is also being looked into if the state government does not find a suitable candidate in Himachal cadre. Kerala cadre officer, RS Shingla had shown interest in returning to his home state. The government had approached an Assam cadre officer, hailing from Kinnaur district, but he had turned down the offer due to his job profile.