Telangana High Court has issued notice to the Congress government in state asking them to explain why Indian Police Service officers have been appointed on posts usually for IAS officers.
Justice Surepally Nanda directed the Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary (General Administration Department—GAD) to submit their counter-affidavits by December 10. The notices were issued on Monday, December 1.
A plea against the appointments was filed by Hyderabad based lawyer Vadla Srikanth whose counsel, Vijay Gopal, argued that the government had violated Central laws with these appointments.
The laws define separate roles for IAS and IPS officers in state administration. Three such appointments were mentioned in the petition.
Stephen Ravindra, IPS, currently serving as Commissioner of Civil Supplies and Ex-Officio principal secretary to the government, Shikha Goel, IPS, currently serving as Director General, Vigilance and Enforcement, and ex-officio principal secretary, GAD, and CV Anand, IPS and former Hyderabad Commissioner, serving as Special Chief Secretary, Home Department.
In his argument, Vijay Gopal said that IAS officers are trained to review decisions made by IPS officers. Placing an IPS officer in such a review role removes the neutral check that the administrative structure is designed to maintain.
Though the state has been given time till December 10, Rahul Reddy, appearing on behalf of the state from the Additional Advocate General’s office, requested additional time from the court to prepare and file a comprehensive counter-affidavit.
