Central rejects cadre transfer requests of IAS officers in Telangana, orders relocation to Andhra Pradesh

HYDERABAD: The Central government has issued orders for the transfer of several IAS officers currently serving in Telangana to the Andhra Pradesh cadre.

Among the officers affected are Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Commissioner Amrapali Kata, Energy Secretary Ronald Rose, Vani Prasad, and Prashanti. The officers have been instructed to report to their new postings in Andhra Pradesh with immediate effect.

In an official communication sent to the Chief Secretaries of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the Centre outlined the reallocation process. Despite receiving requests from 11 officers to remain in Telangana, the Central government rejected their appeals and affirmed the original cadre allocations.

Ronald Rose, currently serving as Energy Secretary in Telangana, had submitted a formal request to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) seeking to remain in the Telangana cadre. This followed a review by a single-member committee led by retired IAS officer Deepak Khandekar, as directed by the High Court. Rose's request was submitted on 7th April 2024, and after a personal hearing on 25th June 2024, the committee concluded that his request did not meet the established guidelines. Consequently, the competent authority accepted the recommendation, and Ronald Rose has been ordered to join the Andhra Pradesh government by 16th October 2024. Telangana authorities have been instructed to ensure his prompt release and submit a compliance report.

Similarly, GHMC Commissioner Amrapali Kata’s appeal to remain in Telangana has also been declined. The officer, from the 2010 Andhra Pradesh cadre, had applied to be considered for the Telangana cadre, citing her permanent address in Vishakhapatnam during her UPSC application. However, the Khandekar Committee, in its review, upheld the guidelines established by the Pratyush Sinha Committee for cadre bifurcation after the 2014 state division and noted that Kata’s request was outside the scope of these principles.

The Khandekar Committee further emphasised that the allocation process for officers was carried out uniformly, and any deviations could be deemed discriminatory. The High Court had previously reiterated the need to adhere to these guidelines, and the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions accepted the committee’s recommendation, concluding that Amrapali Kata would now be transferred back to the Andhra Pradesh cadre.

This latest development marks the conclusion of a lengthy reconsideration process for IAS cadre allocations in the two states, as per the court's directive, ensuring compliance with established policy guidelines.