December 21, 2022
Jawhar Sircar (Rajya Sabha) during Zero Hour on 21.12.22 raising the issue of the need to roll back the proposed amendment to Rule 6 of IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954
Sir, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to highlight a very important issue. This is about the proposed amendment to the All-India Service Cadre Rules. The amendment to Rule 6 of the IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954 relating to deputation of IAS Officers to the Union Government will give absolute one-sided overriding power to the Centre in violation of the All-India Service Act and spirit. At the same time, one appreciates the fact that there is an acute shortage of IAS officers and among other service officers also at the Centre for various reasons, including the demands of the States. The submission that I am making is just with the help of a little data. In West Bengal, only 11 out of 280 officers have been deputed to work at the Centre. In Rajasthan, it is 13 out of 247. In Telangana, it is 7 out of 208. There is no political colour to it. It is an administrative requirement of the States. I have worked exactly half, 16 years in the Centre, and exactly half, 16 years in the State. So I know the situation. Sir, today, in this opportunity before you, I submit it from that experience that an overview needs to be taken on the absolute numbers. You cannot pull the blanket on one side and expose your legs to mosquitoes or pull it over your legs and expose your face to mosquitoes. There is an overall shortage and one cannot go on in this tug of war. So, I submit to the Government that (a) do not transgress into federal relations in a one-sided manner; (b) appreciate the problem and (c) please take an overview of the total shortage so that both the Centre and the States can function properly. Thank you, Sir.
