By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: A Union Home Ministry directive to Odisha Government in February this year, clearly stated that ‘since there is no vacancy at DG level in the Odisha cadre and request to accommodate for creation of 2 temporary ex cadre posts and 1 existing temporary ex cadre post in the grade of Level 16 to facilitate promotion of the 2 officers of 1994 batch IPS officers cannot be acceded, “Under Secretary to Government in MHA, Chandan Kumar wrote to Odisha Chief Secretary ( No-1-11012/27/2025-IPS-1).
The promotion of Sanjeeb Panda and YK Jethwa serving in Anti Maoists Operations and Vigilance respectively, raised many eyebrows. The Supreme Court is hearing next the DG posting controversy on September 2. Odisha submitted his arguments while Petitioner is expected to file a rejoinder.
Odisha has 4 DG-rank posts — 2 cadre + 2 ex-cadre. YB Khurania and Dr Sudhanshu Sarangi occupy the two cadre DG-rank posts. Vinaytosh Mishra and R.P. Koche occupy the two ex-cadre DG-rank posts.
Susanta Kumar Nath, while on Central deputation, was granted proforma promotion to DG rank.On his return to Odisha cadre, there are consequently 5 DG-rank officers against 4 DG-rank posts — i.e. one officer is already in excess.
When Khurania retired on 16.08.2026, that excess position disappeared: 5 officers become 4 against 4 posts.Therefore, Khurania’s retirement did NOT create a fresh DG-rank vacancy.
The first actual DG-rank vacancy would arise only on 30.11.2026, on the retirement of Vinaytosh Mishra, leaving 3 officers against 4 DG-rank posts.
Consequently, the State’s letter appears to be technically questionable when it says that there are “two vacancies in the DG Grade (Level-16)” arising from the superannuation of Khurania and Vinaytosh Mishra. The State’s own letter expressly links the two proposed temporary posts to these two retirements.
