Telangana wants power to choose Head of Police force

Telangana government is all set to do away with the Central nod for the appointment of Head of Police Force (HOPF) apart from the mandated two-year fixed term that applies to the top police post at present.

Telangana is planning to bring about a HOPF Act which will allow the state government to have the power to choose a HOPF of its choice.

The General Administration department has already cleared the draft of the HOPF Act which has been sent to the law department. The draft is likely to be placed before the state cabinet at its meeting on March 8.

In December 2017, the Andhra Pradesh government abolished the State Police Act by bringing in an ordinance to pave the way for the appointment of M Malakondaiah as the HOPF.

The Centre rejected the panel of names sent by AP twice saying that one of them - Malakondaiah had only six months of service left as against the stipulated two years. The TDP government then issued the ordinance by which it could appoint a HOPF on its own without getting the nod from the Centre thus appointing Malakondaiah.

Since then, various states have been demanding the state government be given the powers to appoint DGPs as law and order subject is a state’s matter.