Supreme Court expands review of DGP appointment rules to all states amid Jharkhand challenge

Key facts

• The Supreme Court asked the Centre to provide a summary of the laws, rules and executive orders followed by every state in selecting and appointing Directors General of Police (DGPs).
• A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana asked the Jharkhand government and DGP Tadasha Mishra to respond by November 16, 2026 to petitions challenging her appointment.
• The Centre has challenged Jharkhand's Selection and Appointment of Director General and Inspector General of Police, Jharkhand (Head of the Police Force) Regulation, 2025, notified on January 8, 2025, which set up a nomination committee, provided a panel of three to five officers and required candidates to have at least six months of service remaining.
• The Centre alleged Jharkhand amended the regulation on December 29, 2025 and appointed Tadasha Mishra as DGP on December 30, a day before her scheduled retirement, giving her a two-year tenure contrary to the Supreme Court's prescribed procedure.
• In the 2006 Prakash Singh versus Union of India judgment, the Supreme Court directed states to select DGPs from the three senior-most eligible officers shortlisted by the Union Public Service Commission and provided a minimum two-year tenure for an appointed DGP irrespective of retirement date.