`How are you personally aggrieved?’ Telangana HC asks petitioner in IPS-to-IAS postings case

Hyderabad: Telangana High Court on Friday questioned the locus standi of a petitioner who has challenged a state government order permitting the posting of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers on posts earmarked for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) cadre in Telangana.

Court seeks clarification on petitioner’s Locus Standi

Justice E.V. Venugopal, while hearing the writ petition, asked the petitioner, Vadla Srikanth, an advocate and social activist, to explain how he is personally aggrieved by G.O.Rt.No. 1342 issued by the General Administration (Special B) Department on September 26, 2025.

The Government Order authorises the posting of IPS cadre officers to positions reserved for IAS officers within the State administration.

The Court directed the petitioner’s counsel to implead individuals who are directly affected by the impugned order and adjourned the matter to April 15, 2026, for further hearing.

Earlier proceedings

The writ petition was previously heard by Justice Surepally Nanda on December 1, 2025. At that stage, notices were issued to the Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary, General Administration Department, Government of Telangana, seeking their responses.

Grounds of challenge

In his petition, Vadla Srikanth, a resident of Tarnaka in Secunderabad, contended that the posting of IPS officers to IAS cadre posts violates the IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954, read with the IAS (Fixation of Cadre Strength) Amendment Regulations, 2016.

The petition specifically referred to three senior IPS officers presently functioning in posts traditionally held by IAS officers:

Stephen Ravindra, IPS, serving as Commissioner of Civil Supplies and Ex officio Principal Secretary to the Government;

Shikha Goel, IPS, serving as Director General, Vigilance and Enforcement and ex officio Principal Secretary to the Government, General Administration Department;

C.V. Anand, IPS, serving as Special Chief Secretary to the Government, Home Department.

Reliefs sought

The petitioner has sought directions restraining the State Government from appointing IPS officers to IAS cadre posts and has requested that such positions be filled exclusively by IAS officers in accordance with the statutory framework.

He has also sought the removal of IPS officers currently holding such posts.

The case will next be heard on April 15, 2026.