The Telangana High Court has recently upheld the central government’s decision to transfer several IAS officers, denying them any legal reprieve. Seven officers, including Ronald Ross, Vakati Karuna, Amrapali Kata, Vani Prasad, Hari Kiran, Shiva Shankar, and Srujan, challenged the ruling of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) by filing a lunch motion petition. However, after careful consideration, the court confirmed the validity of the CAT’s order, asserting that the officers must report to the states assigned to them as per the directives issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). As a result, the court dismissed the officers’ petitions without granting any relief.
During the recent hearing of the lunch motion petition, the High Court delivered several important insights. It emphasized that IAS officers have a duty to serve the public and encouraged them to accept postings offered by the central government, regardless of their location. The court expressed disapproval of the officers for seeking judicial intervention after the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) had already dismissed their petitions, labeling such actions as inappropriate.
The counsel representing the IAS officers informed the court about an upcoming hearing scheduled for November 4 in the CAT and requested a temporary relief period of fifteen days. However, the High Court cautioned that granting a stay could lead to prolonged uncertainty and delays in resolving the issue. It also mentioned that senior officials would participate in the CAT proceedings and warned that their intervention might complicate the situation even further. Ultimately, the High Court dismissed the IAS officers’ petition, reaffirming the decisions made by the CAT and highlighting the importance of following the legal process.
The High Court has instructed IAS officers to swiftly report to the states assigned to them by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). The court emphasized that, as responsible public officials, it is their duty to avoid causing any inconvenience to the public. In line with DoPT’s orders, the officers must report to their respective states by this evening, October 16.The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) had previously issued the same directive. However, when the officers challenged the CAT’s decisions in the High Court, the court rejected their request for relief. The High Court upheld the CAT’s rulings and dismissed their petition.
