Himachal Pradesh Government appoints senior IPS officer Atul Verma as the new DGP of HP Police
A 1991-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Atul Verma was serving as the director general (CID)
New Delhi, May 2
In a surprise move, the Himachal Pradesh Government appointed Dr Atul Verma as the new director general of police (DGP) of Himachal Pradesh .
Verma’s appointment orders were issued by Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena on May 1. A 1991-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Verma was serving as the director general (CID).
Sanjay Kundu, the former DGP of Himachal Pradesh, retired on Tuesday after serving 35 years in the police service.
The orders were issued after obtaining permission from the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The state government had however sent names of three top contenders to the Union Public Service Commission in terms of seniority for the post of DGP. The three contenders were SR Ojha (1991 batch), Tapan Kumar Deka (1988 batch) and Shyam Bhagat Negi (1990 batch).
However, Atul Verma who ranks fourth in terms of seniorty to these officers was appointed as the new DGP.
Tapan Kumar Deka is the Chief of Intelligence Bureau while Shyam Bharat Negi is post at the Cabinet Secreteriat. SR Ojha had recently returned from central deputation and was given the charge as the director general (prisons). He was the acting DGP of Himachal Pradesh Police when Kundu had gone on leave for a few days before his retirement in April.
