Arvind Kumar Jain, an Indian Police Services (IPS) officer of 1979 batch, has been appointed the new Director General of Police (DGP) of Uttar Pradesh for a short span of two months with immediate effect. Jain takes charge from Arun Kumar Gupta, who retired on Saturday.
Eyebrows are raised over Jain’s appointment as the new DGP as his tenure would be for just two months as he will retire on March 31 next. Arun Kumar Gupta was the DGP for just one month. Questions are being raised as how an officer could inspire confidence in the police force in such a short time.
Earlier, the UP Government had written to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to extend the service of Arun Kumar Gupta for three months after his retirement on January 31 but the proposal was rejected. The MHA argued that it would leave a bad precedence.
Jain pipped senior IPS officers Jagmohan Yadav and Surya Kumar in the race for the DGP’s post. later, talking to reporters, Jain said every IPS nurtured a dream of becoming the DGP one day. “I will have a short tenure and, in this two months, I have the challenge to streamline the law and order as well as improve the image of the police force,” he added.
Earlier in the morning, Gupta was given a warm farewell at a function held at Police lines. He was given a ceremonial send-off with senior police attending the function in large number. “I have no regrets. I have served the people of the state to the best of my ability,” he told reporters. Gupta had succeeded Al Banerjee who had retired on December 31 last year.