New Delhi, Oct. 8 -- Centre has moved the Supreme Court seeking a direction to declare as illegal the appointment of the incumbent Jharkhand director general of Police (DGP) Tadasha Mishra, contending that the state government's 2025 regulations governing the selection of police chief are contrary to the top court's binding directions in the past. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant agreed on Wednesday to list the Centre's application for hearing on Thursday, after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta mentioned it. The application, filed in the long-running Prakash Singh case, has challenged the legality of appointments made under the "Selection and Appointment of Director General and Inspector General of Police, Jharkhand (Head of the Police Force) Regulation, 2025". The Centre has asked the court to direct Jharkhand to implement its directions in the Prakash Singh case and, alternatively, declare DGP appointments made under the 2025 regulation illegal. The Prakash Singh case relates to the SC's monitoring of police reforms, in which the court has issued a series of directions since 2006 aimed at insulating the police from undue political interference and ensuring transparent, merit-based appointments and fixed tenures for senior police officers. In the present plea, Centre has particularly objected to the manner in which Jharkhand government amended its regulations to facilitate Mishra's appointment as DGP on December 30, 2025, a day before she was due to retire. According to the application, a December 29 resolution removed the requirement of six months' residual service for appointment as DGP, paving the way for Mishra's appointment under the 2025 regulations. This, the Centre has argued, runs contrary to the Supreme Court's directions in the Prakash Singh case, under which recommendations for appointment of a DGP are to be made from officers having at least six months of residual service before retirement. The court had clarified in its March 13, 2019 order that the requirement would apply to the UPSC's recommendation and preparation of the panel. The Centre has also questioned the very framing of the 2025 regulations. Jharkhand notified the regulations on January 8, 2025, providing for a state-level nomination committee for selection of the DGP. The application says the state framed the regulations without obtaining the SC's permission as required by its earlier directions. The Centre's challenge comes against the backdrop of an earlier appointment made under the same regulatory framework. Jharkhand appointed Anurag Gupta as DGP on February 2, 2025, for a two-year tenure despite his having only around three months of service left before superannuation. Union home ministry subsequently wrote to state on April 22, May 3 and May 23, 2025, opposing the appointment and pointing out Gupta retired on April 30, 2025....