Centre defends Delhi Police Commissioner appointment, says it was done in “public interest”

The appointment of Gujarat-cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana was contested for being illegal on multiple grounds

Defending the appointment of Gujarat-cadre IPS officer as Delhi Police Commissioner, the Centre has informed the Delhi High Court that it was done in "public interest", taking into account the Capital's policing issues which not only had national security but also cross border implications.

The Centre, in an affidavit filed before the High Court, said best attempts were made to find a suitable Indian Police Service (IPS) officer having diverse experience of policing in a vast State or Central Investigating Agency or National Security or Para-military force from the options available in AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and Mizoram Union Territories) cadre.

However, AGMUT cadre being a cadre comprising of Union Territory and small north-eastern States, it was felt that the requisite experience of working and supervising the central investigating agency/para-military force and police force of a large State having diverse political and law and order problem was lacking in the present pool of available officers, the Centre said.