By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Yes — 1994 batch Sanjeeb Panda or YK Jethwa, their chances look significantly reduced andremote right now.
They were ADGs until 10 August and got DG rank only 1–2 days before the critical window. The Supreme Court is specifically examining whether this was done to “smuggle” them into the UPSC panel. Courts generally frown on such sudden elevations done only to meet eligibility for a top post.
Odisha already has proper, longer-serving DG-rank officers: Sudhanshu Sarangi (1990 batch) — senior-most and R.P. Koche (1993 batch).
UPSC and the Prakash Singh guidelines prefer the three senior-most eligible DG-rank officers. Freshly promoted 1994-batch officers rank lower in seniority.
Around 7 August, UPSC had indicated it would consider only DG-level officers. A promotion done after that indication weakens the case for including Panda and Jethwa.
The PIL is listed for hearing on 12 August. The CJI-led bench has already said it expects UPSC to strictly follow the Court’s earlier judgments. If the Court finds the fresh promotions were an attempt to bypass the guidelines, it can direct UPSC to ignore the newly promoted names or stick only to officers who were DG-rank before the sudden elevations.
Before 10 August: Panda was seen as a strong contender (especially after some issues with other officers). After the promotion + PIL: Their path has become difficult. Senior officers like Sarangi and Koche are now in a much stronger position.
Final shortlist will still come from UPSC (three names). Even if Panda/Jethwa somehow make the panel of three, the state would still have to choose them over seniors — which becomes politically and legally harder under Supreme Court watch.
Unless the Supreme Court gives a surprisingly lenient view on the last-minute promotions, the chances of either Sanjeeb Panda or Y.K. Jethwa becoming the next Odisha DGP look remote. The safer and more likely names remain the longer-serving DG-rank officers.
It may be noted here that as per the Prakash Singh Case, the list of eligible officers to be submitted to the UPSc three months in advance.
