HYDERABAD: Chief of the Intelligence Security Wing, a separate wing of police department responsible for the security of the chief minister and other VIPs, is set to retire in two days and many officers of the rank of inspector-general of police (IGP) are learnt to be in the race for the coveted post. Meanwhile, the government is said to be in no mood to relieve the incumbent of his duties. MK Singh, a 1997-batch officer, is learnt to have been given extension in service as ISW chief.
However, the department has brought to the notice of the chief minister about the rules which do not allow extension of the service of an IPS officer after retirement. If the state government is desirous of extending the service of an officer, it needs to send the proposal to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and also seek the consent of the Union ministry of home affairs.
Sources told Express that, in order to circumvent the hurdle, it was decided to designate MK Singh as ‘officer on special duty (OSD)’ and retain him as ISW chief even after his retirement on a salary he gets at present as IGP. The post of OSD is yet to be created by director-general of police Anurag Sharma but the decision on it was taken after receiving the green signal from the chief minister’s office.
Considering the long process involved in receiving go-ahead from Centre, state government has issued a GO sanctioning the post of OSD in ISW, under the control of DGP, in the pay scale of `80,930-1,10,850. However, this is only for a period of two years or till the need ceases to exist, whichever is earlier. Following latest order, the DGP is likely to appoint Singh as OSD of ISW for a term of two years.