Hyderabad: In a strongly worded directive, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on Thursday ordered the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to relieve IAS officer Siva Sankar Lotheti and ensure his transfer to Andhra Pradesh within two weeks. The Tribunal warned that non-compliance would result in strict action, including withholding the salary of the DoPT Secretary.
This ruling comes in the wake of prolonged delays in implementing CAT’s earlier judgment in favor of Lotheti, who had been caught in a cadre dispute following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Background: Bifurcation and Cadre Confusion
Mr Lotheti, an IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh nativity, was originally allotted to the Telangana cadre during the 2014 bifurcation. However, he had been serving in Andhra Pradesh under earlier CAT directions. The situation changed in October 2024, when the Union Government issued a fresh directive mandating all All India Services (AIS) officers to return to their originally allotted cadre states.
While many officers, including Lotheti, complied and reported back to their original cadres, several filed legal challenges before the CAT and high courts, contesting the October order. However, no interim relief was granted at the time.
CAT Rules in Favour of Lotheti’s Return to Andhra Pradesh
Mr Lotheti filed a petition contesting his reallocation to Telangana. On February 28, 2025, after detailed hearings, the CAT ruled in his favor, stating that assigning an officer of Andhra Pradesh nativity to Telangana was inappropriate. The tribunal observed that the decision was based merely on a postal address in Ranga Reddy district, which did not justify his allocation to Telangana.
The CAT directed that Lotheti be reallocated to Andhra Pradesh. However, even two months after the judgment, the directive remained unimplemented, prompting Lotheti to file a contempt petition in April 2025.
Government Appeal Rejected by High Court
Meanwhile, the Union Government challenged the CAT’s February ruling in the High Court, but the appeal was dismissed, with the High Court upholding the CAT’s decision.
Despite the legal clarity, the DoPT did not act on the Tribunal’s order, leading to another hearing on Thursday, where the Tribunal expressed strong displeasure over the continued delay.
Final Warning Issued to DoPT
In its latest hearing, the CAT granted the DoPT a final opportunity to comply and warned that failure to relieve Lotheti within two weeks would result in contempt proceedings, including withholding the Secretary’s salary.
This unprecedented step reflects growing judicial impatience with delays in implementing tribunal orders, particularly in matters involving bureaucratic cadre management and officer rights post-bifurcation.
