HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Friday adopted the AP Police (Reforms) Bill-2014, setting a fixed term of two years for the post of Director General of Police, the head of the State police force. This gives legitimacy to the extension of tenure of DGP JV Ramudu for two years.
In the statement of ‘objects and reasons’, the State government stated that it had decided to table the bill in order to fix a minimum tenure for the DGP as per the directive of the Supreme Court.
The government said it brought the bill to enact a legislation to “comply with the directions of the Supreme Court judgment in the Prakash Singh case regarding police reforms.” The Act replaces an ordinance issued on July 20 giving a fixed tenure to the DGP.
While introducing the bill, Deputy Chief Minister Nimmakayala Chinna Rajappa, who holds the Home portfolio, told the House, “The Supreme Court gave some directions to the Central and the State governments for implementing certain police reforms. Of those directions, selection and minimum tenure of the DGP is one. It has therefore been decided to provide the same by way of bringing a legislation”.
According to him, the DGP will be selected by the State government from amongst five senior-most police officers, who have been empanelled for promotion to that rank by the UPSC on the basis of their length of service, record and range of experience. Once he has been appointed, he should have a minimum tenure of two years, irrespective of the date of retirement on attaining the age of superannuation.
However, the DGP can be relieved of his responsibilities by the State government in consultation with the State Security Commission consequent upon any action taken against him under the All India Services Rules or following his conviction in a Court of Law in a criminal offence or in a case of corruption or if he is otherwise incapacitated from discharging his duties.
The Deputy Chief Minister further said the government had decided to appoint the DGP from amongst three senior-most IPS officers instead of five. Interestingly, as JV Ramudu had attained the retirement age on July 20, 2014, the Bill after becoming an Act shall be deemed to have come into force with effect from the same date. JV Ramudu was appointed DGP following division of the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh in place of the then DGP Prasada Rao.