A serious bureaucratic standoff has emerged in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, involving Mr. Pratap Singh, a 2016-batch IAS officer serving as District Collector, and Mr. Prabhjot Singh Gill, a 2019-batch RAS officer who was recently transferred from his post as SDM Pokhran. The ongoing clash has attracted widespread attention and now involves both the RAS Association and the IAS fraternity.
Both officers were posted in Jaisalmer earlier this year—Mr. Pratap Singh in January and Mr. Prabhjot Singh in February. However, from the start, their working relationship has been fraught with tension. Matters escalated on May 7, when Mr. Prabhjot sent a three-page complaint to the Principal Secretary of the Department of Personnel (DoP), making serious allegations against the District Collector and requesting protection from possible retaliation.
The issue intensified when the RAS Association publicly came out in support of Mr. Prabhjot Singh Gill. On May 15, the association submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister, accusing Mr. Pratap Singh of consistently exhibiting negative behaviour toward Mr. Gill. The memorandum referred to an earlier letter dated April 17, in which the association had already demanded disciplinary action against the Collector. The latest memorandum has called for Mr. Pratap Singh’s immediate removal and warned that failure to act may result in a strike by RAS officers.
In a contrasting narrative, young IAS officers have rallied behind Mr. Pratap Singh, claiming that Mr. Gill has a controversial service history. They allege that Mr. Gill faced multiple charge sheets and penalties during his earlier stint as SDM Pokhran in 2022–23. His reappointment to the same post in February 2024, shortly after the BJP assumed power, has raised further concerns.
Supporters of Mr. Pratap Singh cite his stellar credentials, including an All India Rank of 17 in the UPSC Civil Services Exam (2016) and an M.Tech in Aerospace Engineering. Before joining the civil services, he was employed in a multinational firm with a high-paying role. He also earned appreciation from the Government of India during the GST Council meeting held in Jaisalmer in December 2024.
On May 8, the Department of Personnel issued orders transferring Mr. Prabhjot Singh Gill to Nagaur, but observers believe the root issue remains unresolved. The case has drawn attention across administrative circles in Rajasthan, and the state government’s response is being closely watched as its implications could significantly affect bureaucratic relations in the future.
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