KATHMANDU: It has been a trend that Nepal Police gathers attention at the time of leadership transfer. It could be due to the multifaceted nature of the tasks executed by Nepal police that, the speculations about the successors as the head of this organization go high every time the tenure of the incumbent approaches to the final few weeks.

Nepal Police is directly involved in law enforcement and arrangement for internal security management.

As per the provisions in Clause 127(1-d) of Nepal Police Regulations 2014, the incumbent Inspector General of Police shall retire from his post on 12th Feb. 2020.

Clause 127 (1) (D) of the Police Regulations has provisioned the service period as completion of 30 years and has made the retirement mandatory once the tenure in office marks 30 years. The same provision makes it mandatory for 3 AIGs of Nepal Police Puskar Karki, Thule Rai, and Dhiru Basnyat to retire at the same date as they all belong to the same batch.

With 1 month more for the incumbent IG and the AIGs, a competition for the chieftainship of the Police seem to get momentum. As before, the compulsory retirement of 4 key post holders appointed on Feb. 11, 1990, once again the Deputy Inspector Generals are in the race for the high commands of the security force.

What’s more, 19 more DIGs recruited in the police force on the same date as IGP Khanal is also retiring on Feb. 12, 2020.

The candidates then held alternatives at the time of recruitment have turned ‘lucky’ competitors for the key posts now.

Thakur Gyawali, Tarini Lamsal and Surya Upadhyaya are regarded as the ones aspiring and competing for IGP now.

Now senior DIGs of police, Gyawali, Lamsal and Upadhyaya all three had joined the service on July 9, 1990. Held seniority the key criteria for the post, all 3 are equally eligible for the post.

Interestingly, whoever holds the post all three shall be subject to mandatory retirement on Jul.9, 2020 as their 30 years tenure shall be matured then.

In no.1 position in the list of competitors for IGP, DIG Gyawali is executing his duty as the topmost of the state police at Province no.1. Similarly, Lamsal is in Far-western Province when Upadhyaya is in the Central Office, Kathmandu.

As before provided the government makes seniority the main criteria for selection, Gyawali weighs the most for the post. However, the legal provision lets the government pick the candidate it deems the best. This provision opens the possibility for either of Lamsal and Upadhyaya to expect the feather on their hat.

With merely a month for the incumbent IGP, the ‘rivals’ seem to tiptoe. However, the government has not started any formal procedure for the selection of new IGP. Generally, the ministry of Home initiates the procedure 15 days prior to the retirement of the incumbent IGP.

The procedure includes preparing the final list of the prospective candidates, preparing their performance appraisal report and submission of it to the minister. Obviously, it’s the Home Minister who tables the name of the prospective candidate which later gets the consent from the Council of Ministers.

Who are in the race?

Among Gyawali, Lamsal and Upadhayaya whoever succeeds IGP Khanal, rest two will naturally get promoted to AIGP. Nepal Police has 3 seats for AIGP. Once one of the 3 DIGPs of Khanal’s batch gets the top 3 seats as IGP and senior AIGPs, 5 DIGP of the two batches after him shall be competing for the third post of AIGP.

Among the officials competing for AIGP Shailesh Thapa Chhetri is the Central Police Spokesperson, Niraj Bahadur Shahi is the director of the Central Bureau of Investigation(CIB), and Hari Bahadur Pal is the Bureau Chief of Special Bureau.

Likewise, Pradhyumna Karki the chief of Province 2 Police was promoted to the post of DIGP on Oct.14, 2018, the chief of Metropolitan Police Bishwo Raj Pokharel was promoted to the post of DIGP on May 12, 2019.

Thus, 7 DIGP shall be vying for 3 posts of AIGP. However, only 5 will be the competitors for IGP after Jul.9, 2020. Those five competiting for the senior-most post of police, Shahi, Pal and Karki shall be subject to mandatory retirement by May 2, 2022.

Provided Pokharel becomes the IGP he will get the chance to command the organization for 6 months. DIGP Pokharel was the alternative candidate of Thapa, Shahi, Pal and Karki.

What makes the race the most for police leadership?

IGP as the head of the organization held responsible and accountable for the management of internal security is deemed high in respect. The access and prestige the head of the organization exercises also dignifies the post.

The fact that the IGP can enjoy the privilege of internal security management, makes the post tempting for the ones in the service.

Besides, the political leadership also keeps its eyes on the leadership with the hope to influence the organization and sometimes the position in the party.

Former DIGs think misuse or abuse of power rather than its proper use the key factor behind the ‘unfair’ competition for the post.

“Citing that the IGP of one’s favor can ease many crooked intents of the politicians, the political leadership is overexcited to get the man of their choice irrespective of the person’s professional excellence and organizational needs.” Says former DIGP Hemanta Malla.

“The Council of Ministers has the right to pick the head of police,” Malla adds, “Provided the leadership aspires to get the right man in the right place at the right time it has all possibilities.”

Malla hints at the lack of political willpower to improve the organizational performance and regrets that the organization is unable to act as per people’s expectations and its own capacity due to the error of judgment on the political leadership’s part.