Chandigarh, Oct. 2 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed the Punjab government to take expeditious steps for the appointment of a regular director general of police (DGP).

"Appointment to the post of director general of police is of importance for maintaining law and order in the state. An ad hoc arrangement for such purposes ought not be allowed for an indefinite period," the bench of justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and justice Rohit Kapoor observed, asking the government to take an appropriate decision and inform the court about the decision taken through an affidavit by the chief secretary by October 13.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking appointment of a regular DGP. "Punjab has not had a regul...