Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru Bengaluru, Aug 30: The Karnataka government has officially appointed Dr M A Saleem as the state's permanent Director General of Police (DGP). Dr Saleem, who had been holding the additional responsibility of in-charge DGP since May 21 following the retirement of Alok Mohan, was confirmed for the role with an official notification issued on Saturday, August 30. The appointment follows the disposal of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Karnataka High Court, which had challenged the delay in appointing a permanent DGP. The PIL, filed by advocate Sudha Katwa, called for a swift resolution of the process in accordance with the Supreme Court’s guidelines from the 1996 Prakash Singh case. It also urged the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to expedite the empanelment of IPS officers for the position. Earlier on Thursday, August 28, the High Court dismissed the PIL after the state’s Advocate General K Shashikiran Shetty assured the court that a regular DGP would be appointed within a week once the UPSC empanelment list of eligible officers was received. The division bench, consisting of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakru and Justice C M Joshi, noted that the process was already underway and refrained from issuing further directives. Dr Saleem, a 1993-batch IPS officer, had served in several key roles, including as the DGP of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). His appointment as the permanent DGP has been widely welcomed, especially given his previous success in handling complex issues like traffic management, combating cybercrime, and implementing reforms aimed at improving safety for women and vulnerable groups. "I am honoured to officially take charge and continue working towards making Karnataka's police force more transparent, efficient, and community-focused," Dr Saleem said after his appointment. His priorities as DGP include tackling anti-national activities, improving public safety, and increasing citizen participation in policing. Dr Saleem’s career has been marked by his leadership in various capacities, including serving as the Mysuru police commissioner, special commissioner of police (Traffic) in Bengaluru, and heading the Anti-Corruption Bureau before its dissolution. He has been decorated with numerous awards, including the President’s Medal for Meritorious Service in 2009 and the Distinguished Service Medal in 2017. With the legal challenges now behind him, Dr Saleem’s official appointment is expected to bring stability and clarity to Karnataka's police leadership, as he takes on the challenge of modernising policing in the state and strengthening public trust.
