Why? Because the Odisha government didn't just promote him; it tried to rewrite the rules. The UPSC had already asked for *only* DG-rank officers. Instead, Odisha submitted a list that included freshly promoted ADGPs. And that’s not even the full story. A PIL filed by Jayanta Das; son of a freedom fighter; argues this violates the 2006 Prakash Singh judgment, which mandates strict eligibility norms for top police posts. The court hasn’t dismissed it. In fact, CJI Surya Kant hinted UPSC will act if the list is ineligible. But here’s what’s really worrying: if states start bypassing these rules, what stops them from cherry-picking officers? This isn’t just about Odisha. It’s about how top police jobs are filled across India; and whether the judiciary’s checks still work.