Lajja Ram Bishnoi will step down as Director General of Police on May 19, a government notification stated today.
An Assam-Meghalaya cadre IPS officer of the 1991 batch, Bishnoi, who assumed charge as DGP of Meghalaya on May 20, 2022, will hold the post until May 19, 2024.
This was already notified by the Principal Secretary of the Home (Police) Department on December 2 last year but was repeated today.
Since he took over, Bishnoi has taken several measures to clean up the state police system and also to eradicate drugs while also ensuring better policing, especially in Shillong.
On May 2, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) recommended three names for appointment as new DGP out of five names proposed by the state government.
The three IPS officers of Assam-Meghalaya cadre recommended by the UPSC are Idashisha Nongrang (1992 batch), Ram Prasad Meena (1993) and Deepak Kumar (1994).
Nongrang is currently the Director General of Meghalaya Civil Defence and Home Guards. Meena is the Additional Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF) while Kumar is the Additional Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
The state cabinet is likely to meet soon to finalise the matter and approve the name of the new DGP after seeking prior permission from the Election Commission in view of the election model code of conduct that is currently in place.
The Supreme Court order had stipulated several years ago that DGPs be appointed for fixed terms of two years. It was also unhappy with states that appoint acting DGPs instead of lining up a replacement before the incumbent retires. DGPs should also have at least six months left before retirement when appointed to the post.
