NEW DELHI: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed all segments of the Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram-Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre to report within 48 hours any case, arrest, adverse court order or action by probe agencies involving IAS, IPS, DANICS and DANIPS officers.
The directive was issued during a review meeting chaired by a senior MHA official, with the ministry seeking more timely reporting of developments involving officers of the AGMUT cadre, sources said.
The move comes amid concerns that action by agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) was not always being reported promptly by the concerned departments.
48-Hour Reporting Made Mandatory
Under the latest direction, AGMUT segments have been asked to promptly report cases and other significant developments involving IAS, IPS, DANICS and DANIPS officers.
These include arrests, adverse orders passed by courts and action initiated by investigative or anti-corruption agencies.
The emphasis on a 48-hour reporting window is aimed at ensuring that the Union government has timely information about cases involving officers belonging to the AGMUT cadre and can take appropriate administrative action wherever required.
Disciplinary Cases to Be Submitted by October 15
The MHA has also directed all AGMUT segments to submit details of pending disciplinary cases, along with supporting documents, by October 15.
The submissions must clearly indicate whether a disciplinary matter is at the pre-charge-sheet or post-charge-sheet stage.
The ministry has prescribed a detailed set of documents and information to accompany such proposals. These include a statement of facts, chronology of events, authenticated copies of relied-upon documents, a list of witnesses, draft charge-sheets and a specific recommendation regarding the proposed major or minor penalty.
The proposals must also clearly explain the reasons for initiating disciplinary proceedings.
Where proposals are found incomplete and returned by the ministry, the concerned AGMUT segment will have to resubmit them within 15 days.
MHA Tightens Scrutiny of Prolonged Leave
The ministry has separately ordered closer scrutiny of officers who remain on prolonged leave.
AGMUT segments have been asked to verify leave accounts, including the nature and duration of leave, extensions granted and the officer’s place of stay.
The MHA has also directed that salaries should be paid only for periods covered by sanctioned leave. Any excess payment identified during the verification process is to be recovered in accordance with applicable rules.
Ladakh, Puducherry, Mizoram, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Arunachal Pradesh have specifically been asked to verify leave records and initiate recovery wherever required.
Cases involving unexplained prolonged absence or failure to resume duty despite repeated directions may also result in disciplinary action under the applicable service rules.
Mandatory Training to Be Closely Monitored
The MHA has also emphasised compliance with mandatory training requirements for officers.
Exemptions from mandatory training are to be granted only in genuinely exceptional circumstances. Each AGMUT segment has been asked to establish an internal mechanism to track training requirements and compliance.
The ministry has further directed that officers approaching promotion eligibility should be relieved for mandatory training on priority.
The direction seeks to prevent training requirements from becoming a pending administrative issue at the time of consideration for promotion.
Arunachal Asked to Expedite IPS Induction Proposal
The Arunachal Pradesh government has been asked to expedite its proposal for induction of State Police Service officers into the Indian Police Service against the 2025 select list.
The proposal is to be sent to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) without further delay.
The process is part of the regular mechanism for induction of eligible State Police Service officers into the IPS against vacancies determined for the relevant select list.
J&K Told to Prepare IAS, IPS Induction Documents
Jammu and Kashmir has also been directed to complete the collection of Annual Performance Assessment Reports (APARs) and prepare the necessary documents for pending induction proposals of IAS and IPS officers.
The MHA has asked the administration not to wait for the Centre to finalise vacancies before preparing the proposals.
Instead, the documents should be kept ready for immediate submission to the UPSC once the vacancies are determined.
The direction is intended to ensure that the induction process does not face avoidable delays because of incomplete documentation or pending APARs.
Focus on Direct Recruitment and Clearing Backlogs
The MHA has also asked all AGMUT segments to ensure continuous direct recruitment in the entry grades of state civil and police services.
The segments have been directed to clear existing recruitment backlogs as well.
The latest directions collectively place emphasis on tighter cadre management, timely reporting of disciplinary and legal developments, proper monitoring of leave and training, and faster processing of recruitment and induction proposals across the AGMUT framework.
With the AGMUT cadre covering multiple states and Union Territories, the directions seek to bring greater uniformity and closer monitoring of personnel-related matters across its different segments.
