Durga-effect: Changes to IAS rules likely in aftermath of sand mining fiasco

“We are considering making changes to the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules,1969 to ensure that an officer of such services is not suspended due to political vendetta or any other vested interest. The move is aimed at ensuring uninterrupted working of the officers,” a senior DoPT official said.

He said that no decision has been taken as of now on how to go about it. If changes in rules are made applicable,they will also have bearing on two other All India Services – Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IfoS) – besides IAS.

“The Centre will seek opinions from concerned cadre controlling authorities like Ministry of Home Affairs (for IPS) and Ministry of Environment and Forests (for IFoS) before going ahead with the change in rules. The matter is under discussion within DoPT”,the official said.

The move comes in the backdrop of suspension of Nagpal,a 2010 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre,who had taken o sand mining mafia active in Gautam Budh Nagar district of the state.

The 28-year-old officer was suspended for ordering demolition of a wall of mosque under construction without following the due process.

Political parties including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP),besides central and IAS associations of various states have demanded immediate reinstatement of the Nagpal.

The over 4,700-member IAS Officers’ Association has recently also suggested changes in rules including prior sanction of the Centre before any officer of the service is suspended by a state government among others.

“Revisit all rules regarding All India Services,in particular ‘All India Services (Disciplinary and Appeals Rules,1969,wherein a provision for seeking prior approval of central government should be made before suspending any IAS officer working under control of state governments”,the association’s Secretary Sanjay R Bhoos Reddy had told PTI.

He had recommended a provision for serving of a “mandatory show cause notice” to an officer seeking his or her explanation within a specified time period before suspension and only after considering the officer’s reply to decide upon suspension.

The Association has met Minister of State for Personnel V Narayanasamy in this regard.