The Telangana High Court instructed the IAS officers to comply with orders from the Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT) issued on 9 October, directing them to return to their allotted states
Published Oct 16, 2024 | 8:18 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 16, 2024 | 8:18 PM
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The Telangana High Court on Wednesday, 16 October, asked the IAS officers, who moved a lunch motion for staying the orders issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT) on 9 October, asking them to return to the state cadre to which they had been allotted.
Of these officers, Vakati Karuna, Vani Prasad, Amrapali Kata and Ronald Rose, and G Srijana approached the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), seeking a stay on the DoPT order. The CAT while allowing the petition, however, did not stay the DoPT order.
Karuna, Vani Prasad, Amrapali and Ronald Rose were allotted to Andhra Pradesh cadre but have been continuing in Telangana cadre. Srijana G, who was allotted to Telangana has been continuing in Andhra Pradesh. They wanted the High Court to stay the DoPT orders so that they could continue in their respective states.
At the time of the division of the state in 2014, the All India Service (AIS) officers, which include those of IAS and the IPS, were divided between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Those who were allotted to Andhra Pradesh were: IAS officers: Somesh Kumar, Vani Prasad, Ronald Rose, Vakati Karuna, Amrapali, Prasanthi, IPS Officers: Anjani Kumar, Santosh Mehra, Abhilash Bhist, Abhishek Mohanti.
The officers allotted to Telangana were: Ananta Ramu, Srjina, SS Rawat, L Sivasankar, C Hari Kiran and IPS officer AV Ranganath.
On Wednesday, apart from Rose, Srijana, Amrapali, Vani Prasad and Vakaati Karuna, Hari Kiran and Siva Sankar (allotted to Andhra Pradesh) and Srijana (allotted to Telangana), moved a lunch motion in the High Court to stay the orders of the DoPT.
The counsel for the petitioners pleaded for issue orders not to relieve them at least till 4 November when the CAT would resume hearing on their petition, but the High Court did not agree with the argument and said that if it stays the orders of the DoPT, the issue would continue to simmer for a very long time.
The court felt that they should first report to the states to which they are allotted pending adjudication of their case. The court also asked whether they were not concerned about the people affected by floods in Andhra Pradesh and serve them. The court also reminded them that the DoPT has the right to ask them to report to the states to which they are allotted.
The counsel for the DoPT informed the court that a detailed affidavit would be filed in the CAT on the powers of the DoPT in allotting officers to states.
Appearing for the centre, the additional solicitor general said it would be better if the courts let the government decide where officers should work. He said that the CAT had taken the right decision in rejecting the plea for staying the DoPT orders.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
