IAS, IPS officers repatriation to Andhra: TS HC to hear petitions separately; next hearing on Jan 27

Telangana: What has come as an interim relief to top bureaucrats in Telangana, the state High Court has decided to hear all the petitions related to 12 IAS and IPS officers separately. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice N. TukaramJi was hearing the petition about the cadre allocation of 12 All India Service officers.

It is to recall, Following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, the Centre had re-positioned IAS and IPS officers who were working in the undivided state. The repositioning of officers was suggested by the Pratyush Sinha committee. In this process, these officials were allotted to Andhra Pradesh by the DoPT. However, the officials moved Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) and obtained a stay order and continued to work in Telangana. In 2017, DoPT moved to HC seeking suspension of the CAT order

Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan opined that the Tribunal has passed separate judgments. He said each petition will be heard separately by a regular bench. The CAT has given orders separately to all the petitioners. However now the Central government (DopT) has challenged the CAT order in the High Court.

On January 20th, the High Court has decided to hear all the petitions related to 12 IAS and IPS officers separately. And the The matter has been posted for January 27. Now it is the discretion of the bench to club all the petitions or will hear individual petitions.

The officers include IPS officers Anjani Kumar, Abhilash Bhist, Santosh Mehra, and AV Ranganath. Besides, IAS officers Vani Prasad, Harikiran, Vakati Karuna, Ronald Ross, Anantharamu, Srijana, Sivashankar, and Mallela Prashanthi are also on the list.

Earlier, Telangana High Court sent former Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar to Andhra Pradesh.