The Centre has asked the West Bengal Chief Secretary to report to the Department of Persponnel and Training from Monday, May 31, 2021. The decision was taken by the appointments committee of the Cabinet (ACC) hours after Mr Bandyopadhyay along with the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee skipped a review meeting on Cyclone Yaas with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to the order of Committee headed by the PM, the State government should relieve the officer with “immediate effect” and directed him to report to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) office at North Block in Delhi by 10 a.m. on May 31.
Mr. Bandyopadhyay, a 1987-batch officer of the West Bengal cadre was to retire on May 31. He had been given three-month extension by the DoPT on State government’s request only four days ago, as he was supervising Covid operations in the state. But, his conduct during PM’s West Bengal visit was construed as insubordination and showing disrespect to the Prime Minister and was shifted to the Centre.
Interestinly, Mr Bandyopadhyay never served at the Centre. He was never sent on deputation and remained stationed only in West Bengal. With his resignation on the last day of his service, his record remained intact.
DoPT invoked Rule 6(I) of the Indian Administrative Service (cadre) Rules, 1954 to shift Mr. Bandyopadhyay with the Government of India. The rule says, “provided that in case of any disagreement, the matter shall be decided by the Central Government and the State Govt shall give effect to the decision of the Central Government.”
Neither the officer nor CM Banerjee had reacted immediately on the DoPR’s order. But, Mr Bandyopadhyay’s resignation resolved the issue at least for now. It however, remains to be seen whether DoPT, his cadre-controlling authority, still tries to sue him. At worst, DoPT can withhold his post-retirement perks.
In a similar event in December 2020, the Home Ministry had attached three Indian Police Service (IPS) officers of West Bengal cadre but the State government did not relieve them.
