Telangana IPS officers languish, those in Andhra Pradesh opt for central deputation

Hyderabad: Be it intra-IPS rivalry triggered by political leanings or indifference of the powers-that-be, the IPS fraternity in the Telugu states finds itself in a peculiar situation.

If several IPS officers in Telangana state languish in their current posts despite being promoted to senior ranks for close to two years, their colleagues in Andhra Pradesh are increasingly opting for central deputation — 10 officers have left their parent cadre while some more are desperate to move out.

In Telangana state, IPS officers of the 1994 batch were promoted from IGP to the rank of additional DGP and 2001 batch officers from DIG to IG. The 2004 and 2005 batches were promoted from SP to DIG and seven officers of the 2006 batch were promoted to the senior scale. Despite being promoted in March-April 2019, they continue to hold the same posts. In addition to their work, many are given additional charge.

Strangely, the government appointed a retired IPS officer, T. Prabhakar Rao, who obtained an extension, to “look after the work” of the state Intelligence chief, a key post. Ditto is the case with the sensitive south zone in Hyderabad where no regular DCP has been posted since July 2019.

While two IPS officers were given additional charge of the south zone, AP cadre officer Gajarao Bhupal who came to Telangana state on inter-cadre deputation from AP (on grounds of personal hardship) has been asked to “look after” the zone though he has not been posted there officially. It remains a mystery why the government or the police top brass do not want a regular DCP for this sensitive zone, which has witnessed several communal clashes and a bomb blast in the past.

In Andhra Pradesh, intra-IPS rivalry — be it during the N. Chandrababu Naidu government or the YSRC dispensation — is leading to an unusually high number of officers leaving the state in a short span.

Senior IPS officer V.S.K. Kaumudi was the first to bid goodbye during the Naidu regime. A topper of the 1986 batch, Kaumudi has since held key assignments at the Centre including stints at NIA, CRPF, BPR&D and is currently special secretary (internal security) in the ministry of home affairs.

Thereafter, IPS officers Atul Singh (additional secretary, Central Vigilance Commission), N. Madhusudhan Reddy (National Police Academy), Anjana Sinha (CISF), Amit Garg (NPA), Grewal Navdeep Singh (IB), Jayalakshmi (CBI) left the state.

D. Tirumala Rao and Mahesh Chandra Laddha are the latest addition to the officers proceeding on central deputation, taking the number to nine even as at least three more officers are desperate to leave AP. Tirumala Rao is a DG rank officer and it is rare for officers in that rank to leave on deputation. In undivided AP, only H.J. Dora had left the state in that rank.

It is widely believed that the DGPs M. Mahendar Reddy of Telangana state and D Gautam Sawang of AP — both of the 1986 batch — have little say over the goings-on. “This is the first time that both Telugu states are witnessing such an unusual situation and it is strange the top brass is unable to impress upon the respective governments to address issues concerning the IPS officers,” many IPS officers said.