The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Hyderabad bench, has granted Chief Secretary A. Santhi Kumari (1989-batch IAS officer) a final two-week deadline to comply with its directive regarding the posting of IFS officer Ratnakar Jauhari. The tribunal has warned that the Chief Secretary must appear before it on January 9, 2025, if the order remains unimplemented.
The ruling was issued by a bench comprising Varun Sindhu Kul Kaumudi (Administrative) and Lata Baswaraj Patne (Judicial) in response to a contempt of court application filed by Mr. Jauhari.
Background of the Case
Mr. Jauhari, a 1994-batch IFS officer, was initially allotted to the cadre of undivided Andhra Pradesh. Following the creation of Telangana in 2014, he served as Chief Conservator of Forests and opted for the Telangana cadre. However, he was allocated to the Andhra Pradesh cadre, prompting him to challenge the decision in CAT in 2016.
In 2022, CAT ruled in Mr. Jauhari’s favour, reallocating him to the Telangana cadre. Despite this, the Telangana government failed to assign him a posting, leading him to file another application in 2024.
Tribunal Observations
The CAT criticized the Telangana government for not complying with its clear directive, noting that Mr. Jauhari has not been given a posting or received a salary since April 2024, when he reported to the Chief Secretary’s office.
The bench described the government’s actions as “wilful disobedience” of its orders and issued a contempt notice to the Chief Secretary. Although the Chief Secretary filed a writ petition in the High Court challenging the CAT’s directive, it was dismissed.
Recent Developments
The Chief Secretary was directed to appear before the CAT on December 19, 2024, but sought an exemption, citing official duties related to the Assembly session and the President’s visit. The tribunal rejected her request, expressing dissatisfaction with the explanation provided.
The CAT has now set January 9, 2025, as the next hearing date, warning of further action if its order is not implemented.
