Telangana HC declines to interfere in Shivadhar Reddy’s DGP appointment

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court rejected a plea to discontinue the appointment of B Shivadhar Reddy as the Telangana Director General of Police (DGP), Head of Police Force.

However, in a significant directive, Justice Pulla Karthik instructed the Telangana Government to send a panel of IPS officers from the state to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for the selection of the DGP Head of Police Force in compliance with the Supreme Court judgment in Prakash Singh vs Union of India.

The single HC bench on Wednesday directed the Chief Secretary of the Telangana Government, the Secretary of Union Home Ministry in New Delhi, the Secretary of Union Public Service Commission in New Delhi and B Shivadhar Reddy to respond to the notices by January 20, 2026, for the next hearing.

What is the petition about?

T Dhangopal Rao, the petitioner whose plea was turned down, contended that the appointment is temporary and not in consonance with the Supreme Court order, which mandates that only a permanent Director General of Police, Head of Police Force, should be appointed.

Justice Pulla Karthik made it clear that this aspect will be adjudicated after the State government sends the panel to the UPSC and files its counter-affidavit.

Clarifications from UPSC resulted in delay

Ajay Kumar, Standing Counsel for the UPSC, New Delhi, furnished a document dated April 25 through which the Telangana Government had forwarded a proposal for the preparation of a panel of Indian Police Service officers for selection to the post of Telangana DGP.

Following this, the UPSC sought clarifications regarding Abhilasha Bhist, whose name was included in the list of empanelled officers. The officer is currently working in Telangana State but was originally allotted to Andhra Pradesh.

The Telangana Government responded to these queries through a letter dated June 18, sending clarifications to the UPSC.

The court noted that the exchange of clarifications between the commission and the State government resulted in a delay in the empanelment of Indian Police Service officers for the selection of the DGP.

The matter has been adjourned to January 20, 2026, for further hearing and for the filing of counter-affidavits.

Appointment not in accordance with SC order

Justice Pulla Karthik was hearing a writ petition filed by T Dhangopal Rao, a public interest social activist from Hyderabad.

The petition challenges the appointment of Shivadhar Reddy as DGP and seeks a direction to suspend the government order through which he was appointed.

The petitioner argues that the Telangana Government has not followed the Supreme Court judgment in Prakash Singh versus Union of India while appointing the present DGP.

The case highlights the ongoing debate about adherence to constitutional procedures and Supreme Court guidelines in the appointment of senior police officials in the state.