Pramod Kumar appointed as new in-charge DGP of Gujarat

The Gujarat government today appointed 1983-batch IPS officer Pramod Kumar, the senior-most police officer in the state, as the new in-charge Director General of Police following the retirement of Geetha Johri.
As the model code of conduct is in place ahead of the Assembly polls, the Election Commission had asked the government to give the charge of DGP post to the senior-most IPS officer, said Chief Electoral Officer for Gujarat B B Swain.
Pramod Kumar has been given the "additional charge of DGP in addition to his duty as the DG, Civil Defence and Home Guards", the state government's order today said.

The state government had sent a list of three senior-most IPS officers to the EC yesterday after 1982-batch IPS officer Geetha Johri hanged her boots. Other two officers in the list were Shivanand Jha (1983 batch) and Tirth Raj (1984 batch).
"Looking at the impending polls in Gujarat, the EC instructed the state government to choose its senior-most officer. Accordingly, Pramod Kumar was given the charge of DGP by the government. The EC has not suggested any names," said Swain.
A PIL was recently filed in the Gujarat High Court seeking appointment of a regular DGP for the state.
The HC asked the EC to file its reply, as the state government told the court that it cannot make any appointment as the model code of conduct is in force. The matter is still pending before the high court.