New Delhi: Senior police officers who have a minimum six months tenure to retire shall be considered for the post of director general of police(DGP), clarified the Supreme Court on Wednesday. The apex court clarified while disposing off a plea filed by former Uttar Pradesh DGP Prakash Singh for modification of the earlier court order in this regard.

However, the recommendation for post of DGP by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and preparation of the panel should be purely on the basis of merit, said the bench headed by chief justice Ranjan Gogoi.

Singh, in his petition, had alleged that the July 3, 2018, directive was being misused by state governments who were ignoring competent senior officers for appointment as DGPs.

Last year in July, the court had passed a slew of directions on police reforms and restrained all states and union territories from appointing any police officer as acting DGPs to avoid favouritism and nepotism in such high-level appointments.