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Mamata Banerjee requests PM Modi to withdraw new IAS cadre rules, calls them 'draconian, non-federal'
New Delhi [India], January 20 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the second time this month against the proposed amendment in the IAS cadre rules, calling them "draconian, non-federal" and urged him to withdraw the proposed amendments.
Referring to her earlier letter written on January 13, Banerjee said "I have to write again, further reiterating my point, because Central Government has further accentuated its stand, proposing yet another revised draft, taking matter to further non-federal extremes." "I find the revised amendment proposal more draconian than the former," she added.
"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...is going to destroy the morale and freedom of the All-India service officers," Banerjee stated in her letter.
Urging PM Modi to reconsider the move by the Central Government, Mamata Banerjee said, "I request you not to push to the point of greater movements on the issue to protect the soul of this great democracy that India is and has been... Its adverse consequences would be endemic, permanent and irreversible." (ANI)
The Hindu has reported that the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) wrote to the States on January 12 that the Union government proposes to amend Rule 6 (deputation of cadre officers) of the Indian Administrative Service (Cadre) Rules 1954.
The DoPT had earlier sent three letters on December 20 and 27 and January 6 seeking comments from the States but after six States opposed the move and the rest did not respond, it further revised the proposal. The States have been given time till January 25 to respond. A senior government official said if the States did not respond, the Ministry would send reminders and then notify the rules by publishing it in the Gazette of India.
The Hindu has also reported that at least six State governments had written to the DoPT opposing any such move, which include the States governed by the BJP and its allies.
Four amendments-The Hindu Report
Four amendments are proposed to Rule 6. One of the major changes proposed is if the State government delays posting a State cadre officer to the Centre and does not give effect to the Central government’s decision within the specified time, “the officer shall stand relieved from cadre from the date as may be specified by the Central government.” Presently, officers have to get a no-objection clearance from the State government for Central deputation.
The other change proposed is the Centre will decide the actual number of officers to be deputed to the Central government in consultation with the State and the latter should make eligible the names of such officers. According to existing norms, States have to depute the All India Services (AIS) officers, including the Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, to the Central government offices and at any point it cannot be more than 40% of the total cadre strength.
The third proposed amendment says that in case of any disagreement between the Centre and the State, the matter shall be decided by the Central government and the State shall give effect to the decision of the Centre “within a specified time.”
The fourth change proposed is that in specific situation where services of cadre officers are required by the Central government in “public interest” the State shall give effect to its decisions within a specified time.