MP Home Department Raises Technical Objection to DGP Makwana Retirement Date

A dispute has intensified in Madhya Pradesh over the retirement date of Director General of Police (DGP) Kailash Makwana. The Police Headquarters (PHQ) has sent a proposal to move his retirement date from 30 November to 2 December 2026. However, the Home Department has raised a technical objection to the proposal. The issue has now also brought the appointment rules for the next DGP into focus.

Senior IPS officer Dr Varun Kapoor, who is the Director General of the Jail Department and is included in the panel for the DGP post, is reported to have raised questions about the rules related to the appointment. The final decision on Makwana’s retirement date has not yet been announced.

The two-day difference has become important because it could affect the eligibility of possible contenders for the DGP post and could also change the position of the panel prepared for the appointment. The issue has therefore drawn attention among senior IPS officers whose claims may depend on the date finally accepted by the government.

According to available information, Dr Varun Kapoor met Chief Secretary Ashok Barnwal and Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department Sanjay Shukla. During the meeting, he presented his position on the rules related to the appointment of the DGP.

Kapoor is also said to have raised an oral objection before officials to the PHQ note sheet. The note sheet contains the proposal to set Kailash Makwana’s retirement date as 2 December 2026 instead of 30 November 2026.

The key issue is the difference between the date on which Makwana took charge and the date linked to his appointment and tenure. Kailash Makwana assumed charge as DGP on 2 December 2024. His current retirement date is being described as 30 November 2026.

The dispute centres on whether the retirement date can be changed on the basis of the date on which the officer took charge. The available information says that, under the eligibility rules for the DGP post, an important condition is that at least six months of service should remain before retirement.

If the retirement date is changed to 2 December 2026, Dr Varun Kapoor’s eligibility could be affected. At the same time, the position of Special DGP Pankaj Shrivastava, who is said to be fourth in the panel, could also change.

The PHQ and the Home Department have presented different arguments on the matter. The note sheet sent by the administration branch of the Police Headquarters says that Makwana took charge on 2 December 2024. On that basis, it argues that his retirement date should also be 2 December 2026.

The Home Department, however, holds that the retirement date should remain 30 November 2026. Its position is based on the tenure of the DGP and the effective date of the appointment order.

According to the department, the tenure of a new DGP is set for two years from 1 December. Therefore, even if an officer takes charge a few days later, the effective date of the appointment order may remain different from the date on which the officer actually assumes charge.

The Home Department has used this reasoning to consider the PHQ proposal technically inappropriate. The disagreement between the two departments has left the retirement date unresolved, with the choice remaining between 30 November 2026 and 2 December 2026.

Kailash Makwana’s tenure had also been extended earlier. According to available information, his retirement date was extended by one year in October 2025. That decision was taken on the basis of the directions of the Supreme Court.

The government’s final decision will now be important in the current dispute. Keeping the retirement date at 30 November or changing it to 2 December will clarify Makwana’s retirement date. It could also affect the eligibility of possible contenders for the DGP post and the position of senior IPS officers included in the panel.