New Delhi: Several Non-BJP Chief Ministers have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to drop proposed amendments to IAS cadre rules. They are opposing the Centre’s proposal to amend the IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954. Governments of West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are urging PM Modi to roll back this decision.
In their letters, the chief ministers have contended the proposed change in the rules for central deputation of IAS officers will adversely affect the states’ administration. They pitching their point have said that the power proposed to be usurped by the Central government by resorting to over-centralisation of powers will destroy the morale and freedom of the All-India Service officers.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written two letters in this regard. In the second letter, she said “I find the revised amendment proposal more draconian than the former, and indeed its very grain is against the foundations of our great federal polity and the basic structure of India’s Constitutional scheme.”
“The moot point of the further revised draft amendment proposal is that an officer, whom the Central government may choose to take out of a state to any part of the country without taking his/her consent and without the agreement of the state government under whom he or she is serving, may now stand released from his/her current assignment forthwith,” she adds.
Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren wrote, “They promote ‘unilateralism’ rather than ‘cooperative federalism. I hope he will consider my request and bury the proposal at this stage itself.”
Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel have also written letters to the Prime Minister opposing the move.
Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala CMs too have urged the PM to roll back the proposed changes to the IAS (Cadre) Rules.
An amendment to Centre’s IAS (Cadre) Rules 1954, has been proposed by the Centre, which would enable posting IAS Officer on central deputation, bypassing reservations of state governments.
The government has stated that the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers cannot always be posted in states since it is inefficient for both the service and the officers. It has been said that working with the Central government provides them with a unique viewpoint for the personal development of officers after serving in the states and then returning to the Centre.
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