The matter of posting IPS, HPS (Haryana Police Service) and other service officers on the posts of IAS and HCS (Haryana Civil Service) cadres by the Haryana government has reached the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Hearing the petition filed by the Haryana Civil Service (Executive Branch) Officers Association, the Single Bench of Justice Rajbir Sehrawat on Thursday summoned the Haryana government for reply on January 22.
The association, through chairman Vandana Disodia, sought quashing of the order to appoint non-IAS or non-HCS officers of the BJP-JJP government to the cadre posts of IAS or state civil service officers.
The petition alleged that the Haryana government’s move would end secretarial and administrative control of officers of the civil services and affect the effectiveness of the administration.
According to the petition, members of the Indian Police Service, Indian Forest Service, Indian Revenue Service, Haryana Police Service and Executive Engineers, senior lecturers in the state service including members of various other services being deployed as executive and administrative officers in those posts which are provided to IAS and HCS officials.
The petition claimed the posting of such officers against the posts of cadre for IAS, HCS (Executive Branch) is against the interests of the State Civil Service. The petitioners’ union argues that the posting of HCS in place of other officers on their postings destroys administrative control and increases the risk of governance failure.
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The Punjab and Haryana High Court was also presented with a list of about 19 officers, who are IPS, IRS, IFS and other departmental officers appointed by the Haryana government to the posts of IAS or HCS.