The Madhya Pradesh High Court’s Gwalior Bench, in a strongly worded order issued on April 16, 2025, has stayed its own directive mandating that senior IPS officers oversee sensitive criminal probes. The decision comes in response to objections from the state government, which argued that such supervision encroached on executive authority. The Bench, led by Justice G.S. Ahluwalia, agreed and clarified that while departmental oversight remains crucial, the power to directly appoint IPS-level supervision over ongoing investigations lies exclusively with the state government and not the judiciary. The court emphasized the importance of respecting the separation of powers, noting that its earlier instruction, though well-intentioned, amounted to judicial overreach.
This development underscores a delicate balance: ensuring criminal probes remain transparent and properly managed, while also safeguarding the executive’s prerogative to structure police administration. The stay means that, for now, any appointments of IPS officers to lead investigations will only proceed under government—not court—sanction.

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