A group of senior IAS officers from Telangana have challenged the transfer orders issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to Andhra Pradesh in the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). The officers filed petitions seeking a stay on the transfers, as the DoPT had instructed several IAS officers currently posted in Telangana to report to Andhra Pradesh by October 16.
The legal dispute began when the DoPT issued orders on October 9, directing these officers to relocate to Andhra Pradesh. The IAS officers, including Ronald Rose (Energy secretary), Vani Prasad (Tourism secretary), Vakati Karuna (Women & Child Welfare secretary), Amrapali (GHMC commissioner), argued that they should remain in Telangana and requested the tribunal to strike down the DoPT’s orders. Gummadi Srujana (NTR district collector, AP) has also filed petition in the CAT.
During the hearing, the officers contended that similar transfer issues were stayed by CAT during the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014. The matter is currently pending in the Telangana High Court, and the DoPT’s new circular has reignited the cadre allocation dispute. The tribunal adjourned the hearing to 2:30 pm, leaving the future of these officers’ postings in limbo.
As per the cadre allocations during the state’s division, IAS and IPS officers were assigned to either Andhra Pradesh or Telangana. However, several officers working in Telangana, despite being assigned to Andhra Pradesh, have challenged the vague orders issued by the Centre.
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