In a big move in Kerala, first time in history, Kerala Kerala IAS Officers’ Association with two serving IAS officers has approached the the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) against state government over frequent transfers.
1998 batch IAS officer B Ashok who is working in Agricultural Production Commissioner and 2017 batch IAS officer Priyanka G who is Director of Women and Child Department, along with Kerala IAS Association have approached the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) against the Kerala government’s “frequent and arbitrary” transfer orders that have shortened an IAS officer’s service period in a cadre post with serious administrative consequences.
This is the first time that IAS officers in Kerala have jointly sought action against a government.
It is being said that an IAS officer, on an average, spends less than a year in a given cadre post in the state. The legal requirement is two years minimum.
The officers also want the CAT to cancel the appointment of non-IAS officers in IAS cadre posts, like the Excise commissioner and KILA director, and the reappointment of retired IAS officers in posts meant for serving IAS officers, like IMG director general.
In their application submitted to the CAT, the IAS officers have stated that the Supreme Court, in its 2013 landmark judgment in the TSR Subramanian case, had directed the Centre and states to give all civil servants a ‘minimum assured tenure’ at a particular posting.
Following the apex court verdict, amendments were made to the IAS (Cadre) Rules in 2014. From then on, it was understood that an IAS officer will hold her post for at least two years unless promoted, retired or sent on deputation outside the state or on training beyond two months.
The application says that seven persons were posted as director, Scheduled Castes Development, in the past six months. “The average tenure of cadre officers has slipped way below one year against the prescribed minimum of two years,” it says.
