---
title: "Odisha DGP Appointment Sparks Controversy Amid Legal Challenges"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/odisha-dgp-appointment-controversy-legal-challenges-chfs1
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: Politics
published: 2026-08-13T01:00:35.256Z
modified: 2026-08-13T06:30:05.015Z
language: en-IN
---

# Odisha DGP Appointment Sparks Controversy Amid Legal Challenges

The selection process for Odisha's new Director General of Police is facing controversy due to legal challenges and allegations of procedural violations. A public interest litigation highlights concerns over adherence to Supreme Court guidelines for DGP appointments.

## Key takeaways

- The selection of Odisha's next Director General of Police is facing legal challenges and controversy.
- A public interest litigation argues that the Odisha government may be violating Supreme Court-mandated procedures for DGP appointments.
- The state government reportedly expanded the list of eligible officers beyond the top three senior-most IPS officers.
- Promotions of two 1994-batch IPS officers could bring them into contention if the original panel is altered.

The appointment of Odisha's next Director General of Police has become contentious, with only four days remaining before the incumbent, Y. B. Khurania, retires. The process is currently under scrutiny, involving a public interest litigation filed in the Supreme Court. This legal challenge questions the Odisha government's adherence to procedures established by the Apex Court in the Prakash Singh versus Union Government case, which mandates DGP appointments from a panel of three senior-most officers prepared by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Allegations suggest that the state government is attempting to appoint an officer who is not among the three most senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers. Activists have reportedly filed petitions and PILs, including one addressed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, highlighting concerns about the potential favoritism towards specific IPS officers for the top position.

Current DGP Khurania, a 1990 batch IPS officer, was appointed on August 16, 2024, and is set to retire on August 16, 2026. The process for selecting his successor should have commenced months prior to his retirement.

According to Supreme Court directives, the Mohan Majhi government initially submitted a list of three senior-most officers to the UPSC for consideration: Sudhanshu Sarangi (1990 batch), Susanta Kumar Nath (1993), and R.P. Koche (1993). However, before the UPSC could make a decision, the state government expanded this list to include eleven officers, incorporating eight additional senior IPS officers from the 1994 to 1996 batches. This expansion occurred on Monday, August 10, 2026. Subsequently, two 1994-batch officers, Sanjeeb Kumar Panda and Yeshwant Kumar Jethwa, were promoted to the rank of Director General of Police. These promotions mean that if the original list submitted to the UPSC is altered, Panda and Jethwa could become eligible for consideration.

Senior lawyer and former Home Minister P. Chidambaram has reportedly argued in a PIL that the Odisha government's actions contravene the Prakash Singh judgment concerning DGP appointments. Additionally, some activists have raised concerns about controversies surrounding a particular senior IPS officer who might be considered for the DGP post.

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/odisha-dgp-appointment-controversy-legal-challenges-chfs1
Reported from: Multiple Sources