Synopsis- Central orders, three IPS officer from Bengal to serve central deputation to as part of an exercise to fix responsibility for the alleged lapses.
| Central Deputation Officers on deputation serve as substitute for regular duty posts in the event of service officers holding duty posts being temporarily away from their cadre. Officers perform regular functions of the posts against which they are posted as substitutes. |
Background-
- The Centre has asked for the three IPS officers to be sent on deputation with the Government of India following an attack on BJP president J P Nadda’s motorcade outside Kolkata, these officers were in charge of security.
- But Bengal government refused to send three IPS officers on central deputation. The state government in its refusal has cited a shortage of IPS officers.
Why Centre’s decision is not legitimate?
The Centre’s decision not only reeks of vengeance but goes against the norms governing deputation of officers to the Centre.
- First, putting blame on the three IPS officers for the attack without even a perfunctory inquiry goes against the norms of justice.
- A formal enquiry should have taken place, then the penal actions.
- Second, forcibly deputed to central organization- The concerned IPS officers have been assigned new responsibilities at Centre: Bholanath Pandey has been deputed as SP, Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD), Praveen Tripathi as DIG, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Rajeev Mishra as IG, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
- The forceful deputation can demoralize the serving office which eventually affects their service performance as they go with the perception that they have been deputed on grounds of inefficiency or as a punishment.
What is the process of deputation in India?
The movement of officers from the state to the Centre and back is of mutual benefit to the states and the government of India on the one hand and to the officers concerned, on the other.
- First, in normal case, officers willing to be deputed to the Centre are asked to apply through the States.
- A panel of selected officers is prepared after which they are deputed to various Central Armed Police Forces [CRPF, ITBP, SSB etc.] and Centre police organization on the basis of merit.
- Second, in case of disagreement between Centre and State–Rule 6(1) of the Indian Police Service (Cadre) Rules, 1954 says about deputation: In case of disagreement between Centre and state over deputation of an IPS officer, the Centre’s will shall prevail.
Why government reducing the CDR of IPS officers?
Central government proposes 50 percent cut in the IPS central deputation quota because–
- First, the state governments do not spare their IPS officers for central deputation and more than 60 per cent posts remain vacant.
- It is observed that at present only 428 IPS officers are working on Central Deputation against the authorized strength of 1075 officers.
- Second, most officers avoid Central deputation as they enjoy better perks and powers in the States.
- Third, Central deputation could mean a posting in the Northeast or in a Left-Wing Extremism-affected State.
Thus, Centre decision to call West Bengal IPS officer to serve in central deputation seems absurd and such arbitrary decision must be avoided.
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