Uttarakhand High Court Seeks Government Reply on PIL Alleging Years of Rule Violations in IAS, IPS, IFS Transfers
The Uttarakhand High Court has given the Union and state governments three weeks to respond to a PIL alleging that transfers and postings of All India Services officers have violated Supreme Court directions and cadre rules for over 12 years.
Current Summary
The Uttarakhand High Court has directed the Union and state governments to file counter affidavits within three weeks in a public interest litigation alleging that transfers and postings of IAS, IPS and IFS officers in the state have violated Supreme Court directions and cadre rules for over 12 years. The petition, filed by activist Pankaj Pandey, alleges the government has reduced scrutiny of property returns filed by these officers to a 'clerical formality' by not adequately using its powers under the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, to seek details of their movable and immovable assets. A bench of Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta and Justice Subhash Upadhyay heard the plea on Monday. Respondents named include the Union government's Department of Personnel and Training, the Uttarakhand chief secretary as chairman of the Civil Services Board, and the principal secretaries of the personnel, home and forest departments. Advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, representing Pandey, said the petition is based on the Supreme Court's 2013 judgment in TSR Subramanian vs Union of India, which directed governments to establish Civil Services Boards to advise on transfers and postings.
What We Know
- The PIL alleges 12+ years of violations of Supreme Court-mandated rules on IAS/IPS/IFS transfers and postings in Uttarakhand.
- It alleges property return scrutiny of these officers has become a mere formality.
- The HC bench gave the Union and state governments three weeks to file counter affidavits.
- The petition is based on the Supreme Court's 2013 TSR Subramanian judgment mandating Civil Services Boards.
What Is Still Unclear
- How the state government will respond to the specific allegations.
- Whether any individual transfers will be reviewed as a result.
What Changed
- 6 Oct, 11:01 amSignal detected: Uttarakhand High Court Seeks Government Reply on PIL Alleging Years of Rule Violations in IAS, IPS, IFS Transfers
Background
The Supreme Court's 2013 ruling in TSR Subramanian and others vs Union of India directed all states to set up Civil Services Boards to recommend transfers and postings of senior officers, aimed at insulating postings from arbitrary political interference.