THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government usually appoints a police chief of their own choice. However, with the new directive of Union Ministry of Personnel, the new DGP will be appointed with the approval of the Central Government. The home department has expanded the list of possibilities for this. A list of 12 officers has been prepared. This list will be handed over to the Union Home Ministry soon.

In addition to the most likely Arun Kumar Sinha, Tomin Thachankary and Sudesh Kumar, the others are B Sandhya, Anil Kant, Nitin Agarwal, S Anandakrishnan, K. Padma Kumar, Sheikh Darvesh Saheb, Harinath Mishra, Ravada A Chandrasekhar and Dr Sanjeeb Kumar Patjoshi of ADGP.

According to the new rules, the list has to be submitted to the UPSC in compliance with the norms of the Supreme Court. The central government will nominate three from the final list prepared by the Empanelment Committee. One of them can be appointed by the state government as the police chief. IPS officers who have completed 30 years of service and have not been subjected to any disciplinary action are considered for the post. The appointee should have at least six months of service remaining. The present police chief is required to provide comprehensive information on the service of the officers, including Annual Confidential Report (ACR) of ten years. Work-related accuracy, sincerity, and honesty are all needed in ACR.

The eligibility list was supposed to be submitted before March 30 but the procedures are still not complete. The government that assumes power in May will have to fix the police chief. State police chief Lokanath Behra will retire from service on June 30. Talks regarding the new DGP is going on in the state.