The Supreme Court made a notable observation, stating that Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers often try to assert their superiority over Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers.
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This remark was made during a hearing on the misutilization of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) fund, which is intended for afforestation and forest conservation efforts. A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Augustine George Masih noted that, based on their experience as government pleaders and judges, IAS officers frequently exhibit supremacy over IFS and IPS officers, leading to conflicts across states.
Justice Gavai remarked, “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 CAMPA funds being misused for non-admissible activities, such as purchasing iPhones and laptops, rather than being allocated for increasing forest cover. In response, the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the bench that efforts would be made to resolve such internal conflicts between officers.
The apex court directed the Chief Secretary of the concerned state to file an affidavit regarding the fund’s utilization, emphasizing that CAMPA funds must strictly serve the purpose of enhancing green cover.
The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) is a key part of India’s environmental policy framework, designed to balance developmental needs with forest conservation by ensuring that industries and projects that impact forests contribute to afforestation efforts.The Supreme Court made a notable observation, stating that Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers often try to assert their superiority over Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers.
This remark was made during a hearing on the misutilization of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) fund, which is intended for afforestation and forest conservation efforts. A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Augustine George Masih noted that, based on their experience as government pleaders and judges, IAS officers frequently exhibit supremacy over IFS and IPS officers, leading to conflicts across states.
Justice Gavai remarked, “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 CAMPA funds being misused for non-admissible activities, such as purchasing iPhones and laptops, rather than being allocated for increasing forest cover. In response, the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the bench that efforts would be made to resolve such internal conflicts between officers.
The apex court directed the Chief Secretary of the concerned state to file an affidavit regarding the fund’s utilization, emphasizing that CAMPA funds must strictly serve the purpose of enhancing green cover.
The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) is a key part of India’s environmental policy framework, designed to balance developmental needs with forest conservation by ensuring that industries and projects that impact forests contribute to afforestation efforts.
