Treat staff with ‘dignified fairness’: CAT to K'taka govt
CAT asks Karnataka Govt to “play the role of a model employer” and “treat its employees with dignified fairness”
Bengaluru: Asking the state to “play the role of a model employer” and “treat its employees with dignified fairness”, the Central Administrative Tribunal on Wednesday in a landmark ruling directed the state government to constitute a State Committee under Rule 7 of the Indian Administrative Service (Cadre) Rules, 1954 and in accordance with the December 2008 notification of the Department of Personnel & Training to review minimum tenure of the IAS officers in the state.
The Tribunal, while hearing an appeal filed by Executive Director, Karnataka Jalasamvardhana Yojane Sangha, Parmesh Pandey (O.A. 574/2013), stayed his transfer order. Pandey, who was transferred and posted to JSYS in March this year, was shunted out in less than five months on July 4 to the Department of Public Administration & Reforms on the alleged behest of his political boss and minor irrigation minister – Shivaraj S. Thangadgi after the bureaucrat refused to comply with the minister’s alleged demand for some stationery and office vehicle.
The Tribunal observed that the role of the government in posting the IAS officers has been clearly laid out in Article 309 and it must play the “role of a model employer and… act fairly giving due regard and respect to the rules framed by the Government of India”.
According to the IAS (Cadre) Rules, the state government must ensure minimum two-year tenure to an IAS officer and any exception to the rule should be monitored and decided by the State Committee headed by the Chief Secretary. Pandey in his petition had stated that his transfer was premature and that he was being “victimised” by the minister.