The process to appoint Punjab's regular Director General of Police (DGP) has moved forward with Union Public Service Commission shortlisting three senior IPS officers for the top post and among them is the current incumbent Punjab Police chief Gaurav Yadav who is widely expected to continue in the role.
According to information UPSC has shortlisted three officers from 1992 batch of Indian Police Service (IPS) and as per the rules Punjab Government will now choose one officer from this panel to be appointed as state's regular DGP. The three shortlisted officers are Sharad Satya Chauhan, Harpreet Singh Sidhu and Gaurav Yadav. Sharad Satya Chauhan is due to retire on March 31, 2028, Harpreet Singh Sidhu is scheduled to retire on May 31, 2027 while Gaurav Yadav is set to retire on April 30, 2029.
Sources in Punjab Government said there appears to be no reason to replace Gaurav Yadav at this stage and with the state moving towards an election year officials believe continuity in police leadership is likely to be preferred. A senior officer said that unless there is an unexpected change in government's decision Gaurav Yadav is expected to continue as Punjab's DGP.
Gaurav Yadav has been serving as the incumbent head of Punjab Police since 2022 and he was chosen by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government after then DGP V. K. Bhawra was asked to proceed on leave in June 2022 shortly after killing of singer Sidhu Moosewala and since then Yadav has continued to lead the state police force.
The appointment of a regular DGP follows the procedure laid down by Supreme Court in 2006 Prakash Singh case and later clarifications and under these directions every state must send a list of eligible senior IPS officers to UPSC around three months before vacancy for DGP post arises and UPSC then prepares a panel of three officers and state government selects one of them.
AAP government had earlier opposed sending panel to UPSC however the selection process has now been completed and the final decision will be taken by Punjab Government from the three shortlisted names.
Although Parag Jain, a 1989-batch IPS officer is the senior-most officer in Punjab he is not part of the panel because he is currently serving as the head of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and among shortlisted officers Sharad Satya Chauhan is currently posted as Special DGP-cum-Chief Director of Punjab Vigilance Bureau and before this posting he was heading Police Housing Corporation while Harpreet Singh Sidhu returned to Punjab last year after serving on deputation with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). He is currently awaiting a posting in the state.
Another senior 1992-batch IPS officer Kuldeep Singh, who is heading Punjab Anti-Narcotics Task Force and is due to retire on December 31, 2026 has not been included in UPSC's shortlisted panel.
Punjab Government will now make the final choice from the three names recommended by UPSC and based on the current situation and government sources Gaurav Yadav is considered most likely candidate to continue as regular Director General of Police of Punjab.