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Supreme Court Allows Manipur To Appoint DGP From Outside Cadre Amid Continuing Ethnic Unrest

  • By Thetripurapost Desk, Imphal
  • May 28, 2026
  • 35

In a significant development related to the ongoing security situation in Manipur, the Supreme Court of India on May 27 permitted the Manipur government to appoint a new Director General of Police (DGP) from outside the state cadre, considering the continuing ethnic unrest and law-and-order challenges in the violence-affected northeastern state.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi, approved the state government’s request while hearing an application concerning the appointment of the next police chief. The court observed that the present DGP, Rajiv Singh of the Tripura cadre, is scheduled to retire on May 31.

Acknowledging the exceptional circumstances prevailing in Manipur, the apex court stated that there were sufficient grounds to permit the appointment of a senior police officer from outside the state cadre in order to effectively handle the prevailing crisis.

During the proceedings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the bench that authorities were unable to identify a suitable candidate from among eligible officers within the Manipur cadre for the sensitive post.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati also submitted before the court that an urgent decision had become necessary due to the impending retirement of the current DGP and the need to ensure continuity in policing and security management.

The Manipur government had approached the apex court citing the prolonged ethnic conflict, deteriorating law-and-order situation, and continuing security concerns across various districts of the state. The government sought flexibility in appointing an experienced senior police officer capable of managing the difficult situation effectively.

Manipur has been witnessing continuing ethnic tensions, incidents of violence, and security-related challenges for several months, prompting the administration and central authorities to strengthen policing, intelligence coordination, and overall security measures across the state.

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