Vinaytosh Mishra gets Odisha DGP-in-charge from August 16 amid SC legal row
Synopsis
Odisha's DGP selection is caught in a Supreme Court-ordered freeze — so the state has bridged the gap by handing interim charge to Vinaytosh Mishra from 16 August. With the UPSC meeting deferred and a PIL challenging the appointment process, the question of who permanently leads Odisha Police hinges on what the apex court says on 18 August.
Key Takeaways
Vinaytosh Mishra , DGP, CID, Crime Branch, has been given additional charge of DGP, Odisha Police, from 16 August 2026 .
The interim appointment follows the retirement of incumbent DGP Y.B.
Khurania on 16 August 2026 .
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi approved the proposal on 14 August 2026 .
A Supreme Court bench directed the UPSC to defer its DGP selection meeting, previously set for 13 August , until the next PIL hearing on 18 August .
The PIL alleges the Odisha government's selection process violates the 2006 Prakash Singh judgment norms on police appointments.
The Odisha government had earlier withdrawn candidate names submitted to the UPSC, stalling the process further.
Vinaytosh Mishra, Director General of Police (DGP), CID, Crime Branch, has been appointed interim head of the Odisha Police with effect from 16 August 2026, following the retirement of incumbent DGP Y.B. Khurania. The Odisha government assigned Mishra the additional charge of DGP, Odisha Police, pending the selection of a full-time police chief — a process currently stalled by a legal challenge before the Supreme Court.
What the Government Decided
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi cleared the proposal on Friday, 14 August 2026, authorising Mishra to hold the additional charge until further orders. The Chief Minister's Office confirmed the decision in a formal statement: 'After the retirement of current DGP Shri Y.B. Khurania on August 16, 2026, Shri Vinaytosh Mishra, DGP, CID, Crime Branch, will remain in additional charge of DGP (Head of Police Force) with effect from August 16, 2026, until further order. Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi has approved the proposal.'
The Supreme Court Complication
A Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana directed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Thursday to defer its 13 August meeting, which had been convened to finalise the selection of Odisha's next DGP. The meeting now stands postponed until the next hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), scheduled for 18 August.
The PIL challenges the process the Odisha government adopted to appoint its next DGP, alleging it is inconsistent with the guidelines established by the apex court in the landmark 2006 Prakash Singh judgment — a ruling that set binding norms for police reforms and DGP appointments across all states.
Background: A Process Already Derailed
The UPSC had originally scheduled a meeting on 7 August to consider shortlisted candidates for the Odisha DGP post. However, the Odisha government subsequently withdrew the names it had submitted for consideration, further complicating the selection timeline. The Supreme Court's agreement to hear the PIL added another layer of uncertainty, ultimately prompting the appointment of Mishra in an interim capacity to prevent a leadership vacuum in the state police force.
What Happens Next
With the PIL hearing set for 18 August, the UPSC's next steps on the DGP selection will depend on the Supreme Court's directions. Until a regular appointment is made, Mishra will oversee the Odisha Police in addition to his existing responsibilities as DGP, CID, Crime Branch. The outcome could also set a precedent for how other states navigate court-monitored police appointments under the Prakash Singh framework.
Point of View
Yet nearly two decades on, states continue to test its boundaries. The Supreme Court's willingness to entertain the PIL is a signal that the bench views the process as substantively flawed, not merely procedurally delayed. How the court rules on 18 August will matter beyond Odisha — it could sharpen the enforcement teeth of Prakash Singh at a time when police independence remains a live constitutional question.
NationPress
15 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Vinaytosh Mishra and why has he been appointed Odisha DGP-in-charge?
Vinaytosh Mishra is the Director General of Police, CID, Crime Branch, Odisha. He has been given additional charge of DGP, Odisha Police, from 16 August 2026, following the retirement of incumbent DGP Y.B. Khurania, as a legal dispute before the Supreme Court has delayed the appointment of a full-time replacement.
Why has the permanent Odisha DGP selection been delayed?
A Public Interest Litigation before the Supreme Court challenges the Odisha government's DGP selection process, alleging it violates the 2006 Prakash Singh judgment guidelines. The Supreme Court directed the UPSC to defer its selection meeting until the PIL hearing on 18 August 2026.
What is the 2006 Prakash Singh judgment and why does it matter here?
The Prakash Singh judgment is a landmark Supreme Court ruling that set binding norms for police reforms across India, including a transparent, merit-based process for DGP appointments. The PIL argues that Odisha's process deviates from these norms, which is why the court has intervened.
What happens at the Supreme Court hearing on 18 August?
The Supreme Court will take up the PIL challenging Odisha's DGP appointment process on 18 August 2026. The UPSC's next steps on finalising the DGP selection will depend on the directions issued by the bench at that hearing.
Who approved the interim DGP appointment in Odisha?
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi approved the proposal to assign Vinaytosh Mishra the additional charge of DGP, Odisha Police, on 14 August 2026. The decision was confirmed by the Chief Minister's Office.
