New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday made a significant observation regarding the internal dynamics among Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers, noting that IAS officers often try to assert their superiority over IPS and IFS officers.
This remark came during a hearing on the misutilization of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) fund, a crucial resource aimed at promoting afforestation and forest conservation. The bench, consisting of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih, discussed the persistent issue of IAS officers’ dominance over their counterparts in other services, which has led to significant resentment among IPS and IFS officers across the country.
Justice Gavai pointed out, “In my experience as a government pleader for three years and a judge for 22 years, I can tell you IAS officers want to show their supremacy over IPS and IFS officers. There is always a conflict in all states… there is always heartburning amongst the IPS and IFS that though they are part of the same cadre, why should the IAS treat them as superiors?”
The Court also expressed concern over the inappropriate use of CAMPA funds for non-admissible activities, such as purchasing iPhones and laptops, instead of being directed towards the intended purpose of increasing green cover. The bench directed the Chief Secretary of the concerned state to file an affidavit detailing the matter.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, present during the hearing, assured the bench that he would address these internal conflicts and work towards resolving the tensions between the services.
The CAMPA fund is a key part of India’s environmental policy framework, and its misutilization is considered a grave concern, as it undermines the efforts to conserve forest resources while balancing development needs. The Supreme Court’s intervention is expected to bring more accountability and transparency to the usage of the fund.
