Hyderabad: In a significant development, the Telangana High Court has suspended the Union Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) transfer order directing senior IPS officer Abhilasha Bisht to move to Andhra Pradesh, allowing her to continue serving in Telangana until the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) adjudicates her petition.
A division bench comprising Justice P Sam Koshy and Justice Narsing Rao Nandikonda observed that Abhilasha had prima facie grounds to challenge the cadre allotment process stemming from the 2014 bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The court directed both central and state authorities to maintain status quo, stating:
“The officer cannot be made to suffer in the interregnum period before her contention on seniority is adjudicated by the CAT.”
Background of the Case
Abhilasha, a 1994 batch IPS officer, was initially allotted to Andhra Pradesh during the 2014 state bifurcation, despite having opted for Telangana. She had continued to serve in Telangana for the past decade under interim relief granted by CAT. However, in January 2025, the MHA issued a fresh order requiring her to report to Andhra Pradesh, prompting her to challenge the directive once again before the CAT.
This time, CAT refused interim relief but assured a speedy decision on her main petition. Concerned about her career being jeopardized in the interim, Abhilasha approached the High Court, citing seniority anomalies and procedural lapses in the 2014 cadre allotment.
Court Questions Seniority Fixation
The High Court questioned the state government’s role in altering the seniority list during bifurcation. Despite repeated queries, the state counsel failed to explain how Abhilasha, who was earlier ranked senior among officers who transferred cadres on personal grounds (such as marriage), was relegated below others in the 2014 seniority list.
Abhilasha, along with Shikha Goel and Soumya Mishra, was among three IPS officers who had moved to undivided Andhra Pradesh on personal grounds. Under the All India Services (AIS) Rules, their seniority was supposed to be preserved. However, the bench noted that her position was lowered arbitrarily, allegedly based on her inter-cadre transfer year and joining date – a basis not supported by the IPS Seniority Rules, 1988.
The bench concluded that there appeared to be unfair interference in the preparation of the seniority list, stating that Abhilasha should not be penalized while the matter is pending adjudication.
“Abhilasha cannot be made to suffer till the issue is determined by the CAT,” the bench reiterated.
However, the court emphasized that its observations are interim, and the CAT will decide the matter independently, uninfluenced by the High Court’s remarks.
