In July 2018, bench comprising chief justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra, A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud passed a number of directions on police reforms on an application for reforms and transparency in the functioning and appointments in the state police forces.
The State governments have been directed by the Supreme Court to send their proposals for the post of direct general of police (DGPs) to the Union Public Service Commission three months before the incumbent is due to retire. The UPSC will prepare a list of three most suitable officers and the states will then be free to appoint any one of them as DGP.
The Court issued seven directives, which include—constitution of the State Secretary Commission at state level; transparency in the appointment of DGP who shall have a minimum tenure of two-years; other police officers (such as SPs) shall also have a minimum two year tenure; setting up of a Police Establishment Board to take decision on transfers, postings, promotions, etc.; a National Security Commission to be set up at the Union level to prepare a panel for selection and placement of chiefs of the Central Police Organisations (CPO); separation between the various functions of the police regarding investigation, and law and order.
The purpose of these directives is to achieve functional autonomy for the police and create a buffer body between the police and the government. Saving the police from state governments exercising unwarranted pressure or influence is also one of the aims of the directives.