A bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justice Hemant Gupta and V Ramasubramanian, delivered a judgement that said, “The applicant as a candidate for All India Service with ‘eyes wide open’ has opted to serve anywhere in the country. Therefore, they do not have rights to be allocated a cadre of their choice.”
The judgement came after the central government challenged a verdict of the Kerala high court which asked to grant home cadre Kerala to Ms. A. Shainamol, a Muslim IAS officer who secured 20th rank in 2006 UPSC CSE under the general category despite belonging to reserved Muslim OBC category.
She was posted in Himachal Pradesh after the consent was duly given by the state of Himachal Pradesh for her allocation. However, the IAS officer moved the Ernakulam Bench of the Centre Administrative Tribunal against the allocation.
The Supreme Court also denied the states any role in the cadre allocation to the candidates. “The procedure for allocation of cadre is a ‘mechanical process’ and the state has no discretion at its ‘whim and fancies’.”
Indian Masterminds asked few civil servants about their views on the judgement passed by the Supreme Court on cadre allocation and this is what they had to say:
IAS SANTOSH KUMAR
A 2014-batch IAS officer from Arunachal Pradesh cadre, Mr Santosh Kumar, who is working as Secretary in Staff Selection Board, Itanagar, said, “I think All India Service officers should be allowed to exercise their choice of cadre, and depending on their rank and choice, it should be allocated. This is the most scientific method of allocation.”
He added that nothing is wrong in serving in the home state as “it’s always better given the fact that an officer is well aware about the atmosphere in their home state. Hence, it requires less time to get accommodated. However, we are equally prepared to serve anywhere in the country as we are trained in that manner. Our outlook is all India and we are always ready to serve anywhere in the country.”
IPS MRITYUNJAY KUMAR SINGH
The 1987-batch retired IPS officer, Mr. Mrityunjay Kumar Singh, who is currently serving as DG, Home Guard, West Bengal, post retirement, said, “I support the Hon’ble Court’s views. All India Service should not have such discriminatory practices as reward for a handful of candidates who happen to score a few marks more, or who belong to Schedule Caste or Schedule Tribes. It defies the very spirit of the Civil Services.”
IPS SUVASHIS CHOUDHARY
The 1987-batch retired IPS officer from UT cadre, Mr. Suvashis Choudhary said, “Whenever someone joins the All India Service, he or she is obliged to serve anywhere in the country as it fosters unity and integrity of the nation. It also promotes the cause of balanced regional development. People joining the civil services are intellectually at the top of the pyramid and they should take pride in serving at places other than their home cadres.”
He added that when All India Service was envisaged, it was thought to be the steel frame of the Indian system of governance. Apart from this, the talented people joining these services should help spread novel and innovative ideas in the far reaches of the country. “I, therefore, wholeheartedly endorse the judgement passed by the Supreme Court,” he concluded.
