Telangana, Andhra Pradesh officials fail to submit assets info

Hyderabad: Several top ranking IAS and IPS officials in both states have failed to submit their Immovable Property Returns for the past two years despite reminders and warnings from the Centre and state governments.

The officers include principal secretaries, special secretaries and others. Of 718 the IAS officers who failed to file IPRs for 2014 across the country, 80 belong to AP and 43 to TS.

Some IAS officers haven’t filed their IPRs since 2010. Data with the department of personnel and training, reveal that from AP, 18 officers in 2013, seven in 2012 and one in 2010 did not file their IPRs, while from TS, 16 officers in 2013, four in 2012, three in 2011 and one officer in 2010, failed to file IPRs.

The IPRs should contain details of immovable properties owned by the officers as well as shares, debentures and bank deposits.

All India Services officers are bound to file the IPR of a year by January-end of the following year, failing which promotion and empanelment to senior-level postings may be denied.

However, the DoPT, which works under the Union ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions, is only confined to sending circulars and letters to state governments, urging officers to comply to the norms and extending deadlines for the purpose.

Except for issuing notices and warnings, the state governments too are not acting tough against defaulting officers and there are no instances of any officers being denied promotions or sidelined.

The deadline to file IPRs for 2014 was extended from January-end this year. The latest deadline ended on April 30, which has now been extended to October 15.

In addition to IPRs, officers should file details of assets and liabilities under the new Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, including that of the spouse and dependent family members, as on March 31, on or before July 31.

Only 44 IAS officers from AP and TS have filed these returns so far for the last year and 580 IAS officers are yet to file the same.

As many as 85 IPS officers from AP and TS are yet to file IPRs. The Union home ministry is yet to divide IPS officers into TS and AP with regard to IPRs.