THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the UPSC issuing criteria that those with 25 years of service can also be considered for the post of police chief, more additional DGPs in the state will get an opportunity. Currently, 30 years of service is required.

UPSC issued new guidelines to prevent the appointment of retired loyalists as police chiefs and the exclusion of deserving candidates by extending the tenure of officials.

The new criteria is that only those who have at least six months of service left should be considered and those on central deputation should not be considered without an NOC from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Those who are not willing to become police chiefs should not be considered for selection. 10 years of experience in Law and Order, Crime Branch, IB, RAW and CBI is also preferred.

A committee consisting of UPSC Chairman, Union Home Secretary, State Chief Secretary, DGP and Chief of one of the Central Forces will consider the list provided by the state and form a three-member final panel. The state can make appointments from this. In unavoidable circumstances, the final panel may consist of less than three names.

DGPs being ignored and ADGPs getting oppointed

Anilkanth was made the police chief when he was ADGP. The government extended his service for two years when he was about to retire. DGPs Sudesh Kumar, B Sandhya, Tomin Thachankary and Excise Commissioner S Anandakrishnan missed the opportunity. Sandhya lost the record of being the first woman to become police chief in the state.

Next DGP; 18 potential officials

DGP Sheikh Darvesh has tenure till July. Harinath Mishra of IB, Ravada Chandrasekhar, Sanjeeb Kumar Patjoshi, TK Vinodkumar, Yogesh Gupta, Manoj Abraham, MR Ajithkumar, Balramkumar Upadhyay, Mahipal Yadav, H Venkatesh and S Sreejith may be considered for the next DGP post.

Harinath Mishra has service till July 2025 and Ravada Chandrasekhar till July 2026. Vigilance Chief TK Vinodkumar has tenure till August 2025, Intelligence Chief Manoj Abraham has service till June 2031 and Beverages Corporation MD Yogesh Gupta has service till March 2030.