In a significant decision, the Rajasthan High Court dismissed a petition filed by the Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) Association, paving the way for promotions to Indian Administrative Service (IAS) posts from non-RAS officers. The bench, comprising Justices Pankaj Bhandari and Shubha Mehta, also imposed a fine of Rs. 5 lakh on the petitioners and lifted the nearly three-year-old stay on such promotions.
The petition challenged the promotion of non-RAS officers to IAS posts, arguing that under the All India Services Act, 66.67% of IAS posts are to be filled through direct recruitment, with 33.33% reserved for promotions from state administrative services. However, the court rejected this contention, effectively removing the restrictions on these promotions.
This ruling marks the end of a long-standing stalemate and opens avenues for non-RAS officers to ascend to IAS ranks, a decision likely to have significant implications for administrative appointments in the state.
