For a city constantly on terror alert, it is shocking that the government is yet to decide on the name of the next police chief. For a week now, files of all important policy decisions and future plans of the force have been gathering dust, as the department has been eagerly waiting for the appointment of the commissioner of police.

The post has been lying vacant since Dr Satyapal Singh took voluntary retirement on January 31. Two days after Singh put in his papers, the state government relieved him of his responsibilities and asked joint commissioner Hemant Nagrale to take charge till a successor is appointed. While the presence of the acting commissioner has ensured that policing work remains largely unaffected, if a crisis emerges, the department may see tumult over whom to take orders from.