Reflection In Panel and Appointment To DGP Are Not Same Thing; Tamil Nadu DGP's Race Would Be Interesting

As the present Tamil Nadu DGP is going to retire in two months, the race for the next Tamil Nadu DGP has begun. Leading the panel is the present Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora followed by B.K Ravi, Rajesh Das, and  Pramod Kumar from the 1989 batch and a few from the 1990 batch. However, power corridors are sensing a sprung of surprise without a logical explanation or a correct interpretation of the bureaucratic and political processes involved in selecting the DGP. As a result, some are thinking of Delhi Police Commissioner moving to Tamil Nadu. However, top sources in the power corridors have outrightly denied this possibility or found a fault with this possibility. A well place source says that mere reflection of the name in the panel with or without consent does not mean a confirmed ticket of appointment to the DGP post". Panel making is a mandatory part of the bureaucratic or established procedure in appointing the DGP and not a guarantee of DGP selection and if the officer has the required six months' time as per SC guidelines then his name would automatically reflect in the panel. The final authority, in any case, rests with the political authority of the state(Chief Minister) who chooses one name from shortlisted officers from the panel prepared by the UPSC. In most cases especially in states in- cadre officers serving in the state get the opportunity to the top helm and if we look at TN's case then it is well comprehendible and does not require too much reading. A well-placed source said that the rumor of Sanjay Arora's return is the result of too much reading, in actuality, the present Chennai Police Commissioner Shankar Jiwal(IPS: TN:1990)  has a bright chance for the TN DGP. Interestingly Jiwal if become the next TN DGP, then he would be bypassing 3 officers senior to him.