https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Rumblings Within Maharashtra IAS as Non-Cadre Officers Take Cadre Posts

Some of the top posts being headed by non-IAS include heads of municipal corporations, important government departments and bodies While Maharashtra cadre IAS officers wait for their posting, state cadre officers with close political connections are getting posted as Collector, too This has been seen as an arbitrary move by many IAS officers and activists, and there is a plan to file a PIL in the Bombay High Court soon
Indian Masterminds Stories

As some non-IAS officers are getting appointed to cadre posts while IAS officers are being kept waiting, there have been some inner rumblings in the Maharashtra IAS cadre, although most of them do not want to come out in the open and excuse themselves from commenting on the contentious issue.

There have been reports that as many as 16 cadre posts are headed by non-IAS officers in the state.

Officers from the Postal Service, Information Service, Sales Tax, etc., are in posts meant for the IAS.

JUNIOR OFFICERS PIPPING SENIORS TO TOP POSTS

Word is also going around that junior officers are being given top posts bypassing senior IAS officers. IAS officers like Sonia Sethi, Pravin Gedam, Sachindra Pratap Singh, Ruchesh Jauwanhsi and Vaibhav Waghmare are on this list, our sources confirmed.

Some of the top posts being headed by non-IAS include heads of municipal corporations, important government bodies and departments. While Maharashtra cadre IAS officers wait for their postings, state cadres with close political connections are getting posted as even Collectors.

ARBITRARY MOVE, SAY IAS OFFICERS AND ACTIVISTS

This has been seen as an arbitrary move by many IAS officers and social activists. Social activist Laxminarayan Shetty has even sent notices to the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India, and also to the Maharashtra Chief Secretary, to revoke the postings of non-IAS in cadre posts existing beyond the stipulated period of three months without approval, and contrary to the central rules governing IAS cadre. He has also threatened to file a PIL in the Bombay High Court soon if corrective steps are not taken.

STATE SERVICE OFFICERS CITE RESERVED POSTS

An officer from the state civil service in a plum post in the heart of Mumbai, who did not want to be named, told Indian Masterminds that she is there because some posts are reserved for state deputation. However, according to activist Shetty, the ex-cadre posts exceed the total number of 56 posts reserved for state deputation, including ex-cadre in Maharashtra.

Former Maharashtra FDA chief, Mahesh Zagade

CIVIL SERVICES BOARD SHOULD ACCESS SUITABILITY

Speaking to Indian Masterminds, former Municipal Commissioner of Pune and FDA (Food and Drug Administration) chief, Mahesh Zagade, IAS, said, “The Civil Services Board headed by the Chief Secretary must assess the suitability of an officer for a certain post, and then only submit the proposal for appointment or transfer to the Chief Minister for the final decision. By doing so, they will be operating in the true spirit of the 2013 Supreme Court judgment.”

The landmark SC verdict of 2013 favoured fixed tenure for bureaucrats. It held that bureaucrats should not act on verbal orders given by political bosses and sought an end to frequent transfers and suggested a fixed tenure to insulate them from political interference. The bench headed by Justice K S Radhakrishnan also said Parliament must enact a law to regulate postings, transfers and disciplinary action against bureaucrats. The IAS Officers’ Association had issued a statement at that time in support of this verdict. “It vindicates our stand. It will help in good governance across the country,” the statement said.

PIL IS THE WAY TO FIGHT THE INJUSTICE

While speaking to Indian Masterminds, renowned civil servant turned lawyer from Mumbai Abha Singh confirmed that lot of non-IAS officers have been given postings which are meant for IAS officers. “That is primarily because the politicians are very comfortable with the ‘son of the soil’ theory. The non-IAS officers are all Maharashtrians. They have local rules, local linkages, and it is usually seen that they follow the politicians’ orders to the hilt because they know they are not going to reach to the top. All the plum postings they can get only by the blessings of the politicians,” she said.

Civil servant turned lawyer, Abha Singh

She is also in favour of the court stepping in. She said, “A PIL should be filed in the high court. Cadre posts should not be given to non-cadre officers. If the IAS officers feel their legitimate posts are being given to non-cadres, they should approach the court. If they do not want to do it themselves, there are activists who can do it.”

Giving an example, she cited the former DGP Maharashtra PS Pasricha and Mumbai Police Commissioner D.N. Jadhav case, whose three-month extension was challenged in the Bomay High Court. A PIL was filed and former IPS officer turned lawyer YP Singh successfully argued the case, leading to the court quashing the extension given to the two IPS officers.

“Some of the non-IAS officers, who have got the best postings and are now floating in wealth, must be investigated,” she said in conclusion.

NO COMMENTS!

Indian Masterminds contacted many other retired and working IAS officers but they did not want to comment. “I don’t really have anything to say. No reaction at all,” said former Additional Chief Secretary Home, Sudhir Shrivastava. We have also not been able to elicit any response from the Maharashtra IAS Association, as calls and mails requesting for their stand on this issue have gone unheeded so far. As and when we get a response, we will update this story.


Indian Masterminds Stories
Related Stories
NEWS
IRFC
Hindu College Inaugurates Public Policy Lab in Collaboration with IRFC
Shantanu Roy BEML Limited
BEML CMD Shantanu Roy Honoured with Samarpan PSU Award for Exemplary Leadership
Swapneel Paul IAS
Tinsukia's District Commissioner, IAS Swapneel Paul, Bags Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2024
MoRTH
GPS-Based Toll Collection: MoRTH Clarifies No Nationwide Rollout from May 1; Know All About the Innovative Toll System
NFL _ National Fertilizers Limited
NFL to Acquire 18% Stake in ₹10,601 Crore Urea Plant JV in Assam
HPCL Mittal Energy MoU
HMEL Signs MoU with IIT Kanpur to Boost Innovation in Sustainable Energy Technologies
Maharashtra govt-logo
2 IAS Officers Appointed to Key Roles in Maharashtra, Jayshree Bhoj Made Secy, Environment
India’s Natural Gas Demand
Govt Strengthens Domestic Gas Allocation Policy to Ensure Affordable, Clean Energy Access
Videos
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
IRS Padmapani Bora’s 16-Year-Long Journey in Governance
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-13 at 1.46
This Collector Finds Happiness In Squeaks Of Children With Hearing Impairment Who Start Hearing After Surgery
Meghashree D R IAS
How Wayanad’s Women Turned a Disaster into a Dream Project
UPSC Stories
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
IRS Padmapani Bora’s 16-Year-Long Journey in Governance
IRS officer Padmapani Bora's 16-year career transcends typical bureaucracy. Discover his surprising journey...
IAS T Rahul Kumar reddy
How This IAS Officer Overcame 4 Consecutive Mains Failures & 1 Interview Rejection
IAS Officer T. Rahul Kumar Reddy’s journey to success was marked by perseverance through six UPSC attempts....
Indrajeet Sirra IFS new
How This IFS Officer’s Journey Teaches Aspirants to Never Miss Any Opportunity in Their UPSC Dream
Indrajeet Sirra’s journey to becoming an IFS officer after five UPSC attempts teaches aspirants the importance...
Social Media
Tiger
IAS Officer Sanjay Kumar Shares Mesmerising Tigress Patrol Video from Dudhwa Tiger Reserve
In the video, the tigress is seen cooling off in her preferred waterhole before embarking on her evening...
comp-61_1744872235
Tigress Hunts Sambhar in Front of Tourists at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve – Video Goes Viral
The incident took place in the Chakradhara area of Tala Zone, one of the most popular safari zones in...
IAS Priyansha Garg
“Welfare and Farewell”: IAS Priyansha Garg Pens Heartfelt Note After Series of Goodbyes
“While sitting on the chair, your job is the welfare of others. You’ll take decisions for people you...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
IRFC
Hindu College Inaugurates Public Policy Lab in Collaboration with IRFC
Shantanu Roy BEML Limited
BEML CMD Shantanu Roy Honoured with Samarpan PSU Award for Exemplary Leadership
Videos
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-13 at 1.46
Meghashree D R IAS
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT