No early promotion to IAS for 32 HCS officers
Sushil Manav
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 27
A disputed seniority list has prompted the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to “return” a Haryana Government’s proposal for holding a selection committee meeting for promoting 32 HCS officers to the IAS cadre. The Supreme Court, though, has authorised the UPSC to proceed with the selection.
The UPSC’s move has ruled out any possibility of early filling up of vacancies of IAS posts in the state, which is already battling with the shortage – the state has 142 IAS officers against the authorised strength of 212.
This comes close on the heels of the UPSC deferring interviews for non-HSC candidates for promotion to the IAS cadre. Among the candidates is Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma’s daughter.
The elevation of HCS officers to the IAS cadre has been pending for the years 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 on account of a dispute over seniority. The matter has been pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court for long.
On May 9, the HC had directed the UPSC not to make public the final list of promotion from the HCS to the IAS, but allowed it to continue with the process.
Subsequently, the matter reached the Supreme Court. On November 27, the apex court had observed in its order, “The UPSC may proceed in accordance with law and the select list should be kept in a sealed cover.”
Sources said that in view of the SC’s order, the state government had approached the UPSC for convening the selection committee meeting.
The UPSC, in its communication to the Chief Secretary, has “returned” the proposal with a request that “the state government should give a list of representations received on seniority list/issue along with copies of the speaking orders disposing of such representations in order to ensure that the principles of natural justice has been met”.
“It is discernible from the SC order that the court has not contemplated appointments on the basis of select lists to be prepared by the UPSC as the same is directed to be kept in a sealed cover,” the UPSC said in its communication.
It further said the preparation of the select list will be a meaningless exercise as it will be based on the seniority list to be adjudicated by the High Court and the SC has already requested the HC to consider taking up the matter prior to January 22, 2018.
