The Karnataka government announced on Thursday the extension of Dr. M A Saleem’s term as the Head of the Police Force (HoPF) until August 29, 2027, or until further notice, whichever comes first. Dr. Saleem, an officer of the Indian Police Service (IPS) from the 1993 batch, initially assumed the role of in-charge Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG&IGP) for the state on May 21, 2025, with his official appointment confirmed on August 30, 2025.

This extension aims to ensure that Dr. Saleem fulfills a minimum tenure of two years in his current position. He was originally scheduled to retire on June 30, 2026, under normal circumstances.

This decision aligns with the Supreme Court’s ruling from 2006 in the Prakash Singh vs. Union of India case, which stipulates that state police chiefs should have a minimum tenure of two years. The purpose of this ruling is to protect senior police officials from frequent transfers, thereby promoting stability and continuity within law enforcement leadership.

In a previous affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court during 2019-20, the Karnataka government committed to adhering to the guidelines established in the Prakash Singh case. As a result, former police chiefs Neelmani N Raju and Praveen Sood were able to serve their full two-year terms before retiring, eliminating the need for extensions in their instances.

For Alok Mohan, who held the position of state police chief from May 2023 to May 2025, his tenure was extended by 22 days to meet the two-year requirement.

Dr. Saleem’s extension of approximately 14 months highlights the state’s commitment to comply with the Supreme Court’s directives regarding police leadership tenure.

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