In a development that could have widespread ramifications, the Delhi high court on Thursday rejected the objections of the Gujarat government and ruled that IPS officer Kuldip Sharma could be promoted to the rank of director-general (DG) of police.

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Sharma, a Gujarat-cadre IPS officer, has been at loggerheads with the Narendra Modi government. He is currently posted as additional director general of police (ADGP) at the Bureau of Police Research and Development in Delhi.

The Union government can now promote Sharma to the rank of director-general of police. After that, the Election Commission can, if it so wants, post him as DGP of Gujarat as assembly elections have been declared in the state. Sharma retires on December 31, 2012.

Earlier on November 1, 2012, the Union government had filed a petition in the Delhi high court seeking its permission for Sharma’s promotion to the rank of director-general of police. The central government had filed the petition in a pending appeal of the Gujarat government which had challenged an order of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) upgrading Sharma’s grades in his annual confidential reports.

IH Saiyed, counsel for Sharma, said that the court had accepted the Union government’s arguments for Sharma’s promotion to the rank of director-general of police despite the protest of the Gujarat government.