Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government’s decision to promote non-civil services officers (Class-I gazetted officers) to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). The order came on a petition challenging the selection process followed by the state government.
Petition Challenges Promotion Process
A division bench comprising Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Deepak Manchanda passed the stay order after hearing a petition filed by the Punjab Civil Services Executive Branch Officers Association and others. The petition alleged non-compliance with established rules and claimed that the Punjab government had recommended only a few officers, allegedly influenced by certain individuals.
The petitioners contended that promotion to the IAS cadre under Rule 8(2) of the Indian Administrative Service (Recruitment) Rules, 1954, and the IAS (Appointment by Selection) Regulations, 1997, can only be made under special circumstances, considering the outstanding merit and ability of eligible officers.
Alleged Irregularities in Notification and Selection
According to the petition, the Punjab government issued a circular on March 3, 2025, inviting applications from Group A (Class-I) gazetted officers. However, the circular was not published in any newspaper and was allegedly not brought to the attention of all eligible officers. The petition claimed that only 32 officers were shortlisted by the screening committee, mostly from the Water Supply and Sanitation Department and the Excise and Taxation Department.
The petition further stated that no proper evaluation of the outstanding merit or ability of the recommended officers was conducted before forwarding their names to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for selection to the IAS.
Limited Vacancies Under Rule 8(2)
The petitioners also highlighted that under Rule 8(2) read with Rule 9(1) of the IAS Recruitment Rules, appointments by promotion are restricted to 15% of the posts available for IAS recruitment in a calendar year. For the year 2024-25, only eight posts were available, meaning only one promotion could have been made under this provision. They alleged that the state government had recommended multiple officers without adhering to this restriction.
State Government’s Defense
The Punjab government, through its counsel, argued that recruitment under Rule 8(2) allows promotion of 15% of the total IAS posts from state civil services. The counsel also stated that the notice inviting applications had been uploaded on the official state government website.
HC Issues Stay and Sets Next Hearing
The High Court issued notice to the Punjab government to file its reply by January 22, 2026. In the meantime, the bench ordered that:
“The respondents (government) shall not take any further steps in terms of the recommendations of the committee till the next date of hearing.”
Background on Rule 8(2) Promotions
Rule 8(2) allows a limited number of state civil service officers to be promoted to the IAS cadre based on merit and ability. The stay highlights judicial scrutiny over the promotion process, ensuring transparency and compliance with statutory regulations in IAS appointments.
Read also: Punjab IAS Promotion Under Court Scrutiny; High Court Issues Notice, Hearing in January
