Thiruvananthapuram, March 6: The Kerala government has encountered a significant setback as the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) annulled transfer orders involving three senior IAS officers on Friday. The tribunal directed the state government to strictly adhere to the IAS cadre rules established in 2014 for future postings and transfers.
This ruling came in response to a petition filed by the IAS Officers Association, which challenged several transfers and appointments made by the government. The tribunal specifically revoked the transfer orders of senior IAS officer B. Ashok Kumar, citing non-compliance with the prescribed procedures under the cadre rules.
In a crucial remark, the tribunal declared the appointment of the current Excise Commissioner, M.R. Ajith Kumar, as illegal. It emphasized that the position of Excise Commissioner is designated solely for IAS cadre officers. Ajith Kumar, who previously served as the Additional Director General of Police, was reassigned to the Excise Department amid controversies related to irregularities during the Thrissur Pooram festival and revelations from MLA P.V. Anwar.
According to the tribunal’s order, Ajith Kumar cannot continue in his role as Excise Commissioner, and the government must remove him from the position. The tribunal further clarified that appointing non-cadre officers to positions designated for IAS officers is unlawful. This includes the director roles at the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) and the Institute of Management in Government (IMG), which are also IAS cadre positions.
The tribunal stated that transfers executed without the Civil Service Board’s recommendations and without valid reasons cannot be deemed valid. Additionally, it reminded the state government of the Supreme Court’s directive that civil servants should remain in any post for a minimum of two years.
This decision is expected to curb the practice of transferring officials for political reasons and appointing favored individuals to key positions. The tribunal stressed that there should be no political interference in administrative operations.
This ruling brings relief to many IAS officers in the state, and it could lead to significant changes at the senior administrative level in Kerala in the coming days.
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