Forcing states to send officials will result in lack of governance, he said in letter to PM Modi
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi opposing the proposed amendments to the IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954. He argued that it strikes at the root of the country’s federal politics and state autonomy. He urged the Prime Minister to engage with the states to further strengthen the federal spirit of the nation.
Arguing that civil servants should be allowed to operate with a free mind and remain apolitical, Mr Stalin said the effects of the proposed amendments were ominous and “would do an irreparable damage to the spirit of cooperative federalism that existed between the Union and the States”. And this results in concentration of power with the central government.” A copy of the letter was shared with the media.
Instead of imposing restrictive provisions to usurp the power of the states, the central government would “positively rebuild working/conditions of service for All India Service officers through a transparent panel process and by ensuring professional space and independence”. “So that the officers can exercise their option. Deputation to the central government “voluntarily without requiring any rigid rules,” Mr Stalin said.
Highlighting the “extreme shortage of officers” in several states mainly due to the wrong cadre management policies of the central government, he said that the central government was taking advantage of the common pool of Group-I officers at the national level, in the state. Based on the limited pool of IAS officers.
resists lateral entry
The states were at the forefront of implementation of various programs including central government schemes. States also faced frequent natural calamities, which required the services of IAS officers. “Forcing the state governments to depute officers will certainly increase the governance deficit in various states. Besides this, the lateral entry recruitment of the central government has also affected the morale of officers who seek self-deputation,” Mr Stalin said.
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