Dehradun: Two senior IPS officers of the Uttarakhand cadre have approached the Uttarakhand High Court challenging their deputation to central forces, alleging that the assignments place them in posts lower than their present rank and were issued without their consent.
The matter came up before a division bench headed by Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta and Justice Subhash Upadhyay, which has sought a response from the government.
Who Are the Officers Involved
The petition has been filed by two senior Uttarakhand cadre IPS officers:
• Garg, a 2005-batch IPS officer
• Joshi, a 2006-batch IPS officer
Both officers are presently serving as Inspector General of Police (IG) in Uttarakhand Police.
Read also: UPSC Shortlists 3 IPS Officers for Telangana DGP Post; CV Anand Emerges Front-Runner
Central Deputation Orders Under Challenge
According to the petition:
• Garg has been posted as DIG in the Indo-Tibetan Border Police
• Joshi has been posted as DIG in the Border Security Force
The officers argue that these assignments amount to posting them to a lower rank than their present IG-level positions.
Officers Say They Never Consented
A major point raised in the petition is that neither officer:
• applied for central deputation
• gave consent for central posting
The plea states they had earlier communicated unwillingness for such deputation.
State Govt Forwarded Names Despite Objection
According to the petition, despite their reluctance, the state government forwarded their names to the central government on February 16, 2026.
Subsequently, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued deputation orders.
Service Rules Argument Raised
The officers have argued that their deputation violates service norms because:
they are already serving at IG level
DIG posting is lower in hierarchy
forced deputation without consent is improper
State Govt Suggests CAT Route
During the hearing, counsel for the state government argued that if the officers had objections, they should approach the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).
However, the petitioners countered that since the proposal originated from the state government, the matter rightly falls before the Uttarakhand High Court.
High Court Seeks Government Response
After hearing both sides, the division bench directed the government to submit its reply on the matter.
The case is likely to be heard further after the government files its response.
Why This Case Matters
This petition may become important for future service jurisprudence because it raises questions over:
• officer consent in deputation
• cadre rank protection
• state-centre administrative coordination
• service hierarchy during central postings
