Jharkhand DGP's Appointment Day Before Retirement Violates SC Directives: Amicus Curiae Tells Apex Court

Jharkhand: The Jharkhand government's decision to appoint Tadasha Mishra as DGP on December 30, 2025, just a day before her retirement, violated the Supreme Court's directive requiring candidates to have at least six months of residual service left at the time of assuming office, an amicus curiae told the apex court.

Senior advocate and amicus curiae Raju Ramachandran, assisting a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant in hearing pleas regarding the alleged violation of the apex court's directions by various states on DGP appointment procedures, has filed a note in pursuance of the order.

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In his note, Ramachandran stated that appointing the current DGP (Head of Police Force) just one day before her retirement directly violates the principles laid down in the landmark Prakash Singh-I, II, and III judgments and orders.

Challenge To Jharkhand's DGP Appointment Rules

On August 18, the bench asked the amicus curiae to submit a note in response to a plea filed by former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi, who was represented by advocates Abhisek Rai and Gyanant Singh. Marandi sought a declaration that the state government's amended rules governing the DGP appointment process violated the Supreme Court's directives.

The challenge follows the Hemant Soren government's appointment of Tadasha Mishra, a 1994-batch Jharkhand cadre IPS officer, as state DGP on December 30, 2025, a day before her retirement.

In his note, the amicus said that while several provisions of the state's disputed rules do not violate the spirit of the Supreme Court's landmark Prakash Singh judgments, certain provisions require safeguards and clarification to prevent arbitrariness and political interference.

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The Landmark Prakash Singh Judgment

Under the landmark Prakash Singh judgments, an officer must have at least six months of residual service to be considered for the top post to ensure stability and merit. By appointing Mishra 24 hours before her retirement, the state effectively granted her a two-year extension.