More Opposition states oppose amendment to IAS rules

Following in the footsteps of Bengal, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, now Kerala and Tamil Nadu have also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi opposing the Centre’s proposed amendment to the IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954, which would enable it to post IAS officers on Central deputation, bypassing reservations of state governments.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to drop the proposed amendments as it would “weaken cooperative federalism”.

He tweeted, “Proposed amendments in Deputation Rules of All India Services will induce fear & hesitation among AIS Officers in implementing policies of State Govts. of parties politically opposed to ruling party at Centre. It’ll weaken cooperative federalism; may be dropped. Wrote to Hon. PM.”

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin too wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday requesting him to drop the proposed amendments to the IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954 and “instead engage with State governments to further strengthen the federal spirit of the nation.”

The letter added that forcing the state governments to depute officers would surely aggravate the governance deficit in various states due to the shortage of officers. “State Governments are on the forefront of implementation of various programmes including the schemes of the Union Government at State level. The States also face frequent natural disasters which demand services of IAS officers in the State more than elsewhere,” the letter stated. “Given this situation, forcing the State Governments to depute officers would surely aggravate the governance deficit in various States due to shortage of officers and also it is an affront to the administrative framework of the States,” the letter further stated.

The letter also stated, “The proposed amendments would cause irreparable damage to the spirit of cooperative federalism that exist between Union and the States and result in concentration of powers with the Union Government.”

“I would also like to highlight the fact that many of the State Governments are also woefully short of officers at specific seniorities, primarily due to the wrong cadre management policies followed by the Union Government,” the letter read.

“While the Union Government is availing the common pool from Group-I officers at the National level, the State Governments solely depend on the limited pool of IAS officers available in the State,” it stated.

“I request you to drop these proposed amendments to IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954 and instead engage with State Governments to further strengthen the federal spirit of the nation and take forward the noble ideas of our forefathers with reference to the steel frame as enshrined in the Indian Constitution, the letter said.

Earlier on Friday, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi opposing the proposal and said the move will violate the constitutional jurisdiction prescribed for the Central and state governments and will reduce the spirit of working fearlessly and faithfully in the All India Service officers posted in the state.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Friday also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, protesting against the amendments proposed by the Centre in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) cadre rules, terming them “contrary to spirit of federalism enshrined in the Constitution of India”.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the second time this month (first letter on 13 January) against the proposed amendment in the IAS cadre rules, calling them “draconian, non-federal” and urged him to withdraw the proposed amendments.