Chandigarh, Dec 31 (PTI) Senior IPS officer Ajay Singhal was appointed the new director general of police of Haryana on Wednesday, an official order said.

A 1992-batch IPS officer, Singhal replaces O P Singh, who retired from service on Wednesday.

Singhal was serving as the director general of Haryana State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau.

“On the consideration of the panel received from the Union Public Service Commission, the governor of Haryana is pleased to appoint Ajay Singhal, IPS (HY-1992), as Director General of Police, Haryana, for a minimum tenure of two years from the date of his assumption of charge and till further orders thereafter,” the order issued by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sumita Misra read.

The Union Public Service Commission, after holding a meeting of its empanelment committee on Wednesday, sent a panel of three IPS officers – Shatrujeet Kapur (1990 batch), Ajay Singhal (1992 batch) and Alok Mittal (1993 batch) – to the Haryana government for the appointment of the head of the state police force.

The Haryana government earlier sent a panel of five IPS officers to the UPSC. Besides Kapur, Singhal and Mittal, it included the names of Sanjeev Kumar Jain (1991 batch) and A S Chawla (1993 batch).

Singhal hails from Rewari district and is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering.

With over three decades of an illustrious and unblemished service career, Singhal made significant contributions across a wide range of critical and sensitive domains, including law and order, crime control, vigilance, railway policing, CID, special branch, cybercrime, internal security and intelligence operations, an official statement said.

His vast field experience, combined with strong administrative acumen, has earned him a reputation as a disciplined, analytical and result-oriented officer, the statement said.

In recognition of his outstanding and dedicated service to the nation, Singhal was awarded the Police Medal in 2008 and the President's Police Medal in 2017, reflecting his professional excellence, integrity and unwavering commitment to public service, it said.

Expressing his gratitude on assuming charge, Singhal said, “I sincerely thank Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini for showing confidence in me. I assure that I will discharge my duties with utmost integrity, dedication and commitment.

“Strengthening law and order, ensuring the safety of citizens, and making the police force more professional, sensitive and accountable will remain my top priorities.” He emphasised that modern technology, enhanced coordination, transparency and a humane approach to policing would be the key focus areas to make law enforcement more effective and further strengthen public trust in the police system.

Singhal has served at various levels, including as SP, IG, Additional DG and DGP, both in field formations and at the state headquarters, the statement said.

He also rendered significant service at the national level while working with the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Ministry of Finance, where his work related to economic offences, smuggling and organised crime received wide appreciation, it said.

His leadership roles in key institutions such as the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, Railway Police, Commando Wing, CID, State Vigilance Bureau, Haryana Human Rights Commission and Police Headquarters have been marked by transparency, accountability and result-driven governance, the statement said.

Singhal is widely credited for strengthening the anti-corruption mechanisms, improving internal discipline and promoting professional excellence within the force, it said.

O P Singh, a 1992-batch IPS officer, retired from service on Wednesday after a career spanning more than three decades. Singh was given the additional charge of DGP on October 14 when Shatrujeet Kapur proceeded on leave amid mounting attacks from the opposition over fellow IPS officer Y Puran Kumar's alleged suicide.

On December 14, Singh was appointed the officiating DGP after relieving Kapur of the charge. PTI CHS ARI