SC relief for 20 trainee officers on IAS, IPS cadre allocation

New Delhi, May 17

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In a relief to 20 trainee IAS and IPS officers who had challenged the Centre’s cadre-allocation process for the 2018 batch, the Supreme Court today said they would be accommodated by increasing one post in the state cadre of their preference this year.

The apex court ordered this while hearing the appeal filed by the Centre challenging the Delhi High Court’s verdict that had quashed the entire cadre allocation of IAS and IPS officers of the 2018 batch.

A Vacation Bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and Sanjiv Khanna praised Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for showing “exemplary fairness” in suggesting that 18 petitioners who had approached the high court and two others who had moved the CAT on the issue would be accommodated without considering ‘99’ in their respective choices.

As per the Centre’s cadre allocation policy for 2018 batch, the candidates had to enter “99” for no preference in zones and cadres in the online form. “This will be done by increasing one post in the respective state cadres this year, which will have to be adjusted in coming years. The suggestion is accepted by the respondents,” the Bench noted in its order and said it is an “exemplary fairness” that Mehta has suggested this.

The Bench, which modified the HC’s order, directed the Centre to accommodate the 20 trainee officers in the manner suggested by the Solicitor General. “Needless to mention that the original cadre allocation of the other candidates shall not be disturbed,” the court said while disposing of the petitions. It, however, said that “all questions of law are kept open”. — PTI