The Central government has turned down requests from IAS officers Amrapali Kata and Ronald Rose to remain in the Telangana cadre after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. As per the directive, the officers have been relieved from their current positions and must report to Andhra Pradesh by October 16.
Central Government’s Directive to IAS Officers
Both IAS officers had sought to continue their services in Telangana rather than move to Andhra Pradesh, the state they were allocated to after the 2014 bifurcation. However, their requests have been denied. In line with this decision, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions sent formal letters to the officers and informed the Chief Secretaries of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
This decision follows the recommendations of the Deepak Khandekar Committee, which was established to review the cadre allocation requests from All India Services (AIS) officers during the bifurcation. The committee found that these requests fell outside the established guidelines for cadre allocation, which had already been upheld by the High Court.
Legal Foundation for the Decision
The Deepak Khandekar Committee determined that cadre allocations were carried out based on factual records and objective criteria. The Telangana High Court reinforced this view, ruling that any deviation from these established principles would be discriminatory. Furthermore, the court highlighted that attempts by officers to challenge these guidelines could be seen as an overstep into policy-making territory.
The Ministry made it clear that the cadre allocation was done fairly and uniformly, with no preferential treatment for any officer. These rules applied to all officers equally during the bifurcation, ensuring transparency and fairness in the process.
Impact on Other AIS Officers
The Ministry’s directive affects not only Amrapali Kata and Ronald Rose but also other officers who were allocated to Andhra Pradesh but have been serving in Telangana. This includes prominent IAS and IPS officers such as A Vani Prasad (1995 batch), Vakati Karuna (2004 batch), and M Prashanti (2009 batch), among others. These officers are also expected to follow the same orders and report to Andhra Pradesh.
Background of Amrapali Kata’s Career
Amrapali Kata, an IAS officer of the 2010 batch, has had an illustrious career since completing her training. She initially served as a sub-collector in Vikarabad and later took up significant roles in various departments in Hyderabad, including the Women and Child Welfare Department. In 2015, she was appointed Joint Collector of Ranga Reddy district and later served as the Collector of Warangal Urban district.
Amrapali’s career trajectory took a sharp turn when she was appointed as Joint Commissioner of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and eventually moved to the Election Commission of Telangana as Joint Chief Electoral Officer. She also had a prestigious stint in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), where she worked as Deputy Secretary on central deputation. After completing her deputation, she returned to the Telangana state services and has been serving as the GHMC Commissioner.
Future Developments for Amrapali Kata and Ronald Rose
With the Centre’s decision finalized, both Amrapali Kata and Ronald Rose face the prospect of relocating to Andhra Pradesh. In Amrapali’s case, this development may come as a surprise, especially after her previous requests to be recognized as a Telangana cadre officer. Despite her efforts to remain in Telangana, the Pratyush Sinha Committee had previously rejected her application to transfer to the Telangana cadre, citing her original permanent address listed in her UPSC application as Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
Given this situation, it will be interesting to see how Amrapali Kata responds to the directive. Her distinguished career and growing influence in Telangana make this transition one to watch closely. Ronald Rose, a fellow officer facing similar challenges, will also have to comply with the Centre’s instructions.
Conclusion: A Strict Adherence to Policy
This latest directive by the Central government underscores its strict adherence to the established policies concerning cadre allocation post-bifurcation. The government has made it clear that the allocation of officers from the undivided cadre of Andhra Pradesh was done based on material facts and without bias. Attempts to challenge this process have been met with legal resistance, ensuring that the original cadre allocation guidelines remain intact.
The Ministry is expected to issue similar orders for other officers facing similar situations, cementing this ruling as the final word on cadre allocation issues between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Both states now face the task of adjusting to the new cadre allocations as the officers comply with the Ministry’s orders.
