Will DG&IGP Alok Mohan get an extension to ensure a two-year tenure? 

In the normal course, Alok Mohan, the incumbent Director General and Inspector General (DG&IGP), Karnataka State Police, would retire on April 30 as he completes 60 years on April 18. However, the corridors of power are abuzz that he may get an extension till August 5 to give him a two-year tenure as per guidelines by the Supreme Court in the famous Prakash Singh case that led to police reforms in the country. He was appointed as DG&IGP on August 5, 2023.

While there have been no formal orders to this effect yet, Mr. Mohan has scheduled multiple meetings in May, including a performance review of Superintendents of Police of districts for May 3, indicating an extension. While some sources claimed that the State government has to write to the Union government and an extension has to be approved. a senior official said that the extension to enable him to get a tenure of two years was deemed, and a new order was not necessary. 

Sources that argue the extension is deemed and no separate order and approval from the union government needed, point to a reply by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on the issue in the recently concluded Karnataka Legislature session on March 26, a copy of which The Hindu has accessed. Responding to a question raised by BJP MLA Dr. C. N. Ashwath Narayan, as to why the state government had not named Alok Mohan among officers retiring soon in a notification issued in July, 2024, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that the Supreme Court in WP 310/1996 (known as the Prakash Singh case), has said that the Head of Police Force should get a minimum of two years tenure and in light of this judgement, Dr. Alok Mohan had been appointed as DG & IGP, Karnataka State Police on August 5, 2023 till further orders. 

Sources said the confusion continues as in an attempt to overcome the two years tenure, a Karnataka Police (Amendment) Bill, 2012 was brought in which said DG&IGP should get a minimum tenure of two years, “subject to superannuation”. While this continues to stay on the books to this day, the Government of Karnataka reportedly gave an affidavit in 2019-20 to the Supreme Court that it would implement guidelines in the Prakash Singh judgement, which provides a minimum tenure of two years. 

After this affidavit, Neelmani N. Raju and Praveen Sood, who headed the state’s police force had over two years service before retirement and this question of extension did not arise. Now that Dr. Alok Mohan is set to retire before a two year tenure, this question has for the first time come to the forefront.