The Kerala government has decided to extend the tenure of State Police Chief Rawada Chandrashekhar by one year.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the State Cabinet held here on Saturday. As per the decision, Chandrashekhar, who was scheduled to retire on June 30, 2026, will now continue in office till June 30, 2027.
A 1991-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Kerala cadre and a native of West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh, Chandrashekhar assumed charge as the 41st State Police Chief of Kerala on July 1, 2025.
The extension has been granted in accordance with the directions of the Supreme Court in the landmark Prakash Singh vs Union of India case, which mandates a minimum fixed tenure for State Police Chiefs to ensure functional autonomy and stability in police administration.
The move will enable him to continue leading the state police force during the crucial 2026 Kerala Assembly election period.
Prior to his appointment as State Police Chief, Chandrashekhar served as Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau, bringing extensive experience in intelligence and internal security to the role.