Babudom stirred, not shaken by verdict

HYDERABAD: A disconcerting silence enveloped the bureaucracy and government corridors after Telangana high court's verdict, which cut short chief secretary Somesh Kumar's continuance in the state.
At least 10 IAS and 5 IPS officers of AP cadre who are continuing in Telangana, buoyed by the 2016 Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) order, are keeping their fingers crossed, but many are not unduly perturbed as they believe the judgment on Somesh Kumar would not immediately affect them. Most of these officers hold crucial positions in Telangana.

The legal position is that since all writ petitions have been separately filed in the case of 15 All India Services (AIS) officers who got relief from CAT to serve in Telangana, each case will be individually scrutinised. "Even arguments have not begun and hearing dates have also not been set. There is a verdict in just one officer's (Somesh Kumar) case," an officer said.
Buttressing the point that each case is unique, another officer said, "The cases will be examined one by one on merit. Arguments and hearings will take time and there is every likelihood of many officers holding key posts superannuating before a verdict comes."
Fifteen IAS and IPS officers had challenged their allotments by the Pratyush Sinha Committee, which was appointed by the then government to look into bifurcation of AIS officers between Telangana and AP. Of them, 10 civil servants are serving in Telangana with the support of CAT orders after they were allotted AP. While some continued to serve in Telangana, some preferred to go to AP against their allotment in Telangana.
Apart from Somesh Kumar who continued in Telangana on CAT's orders, Anjani Kumar, who was elevated as DGP on December 31, is continuing in Telangana though he was allotted AP. Kumar's term will last till January 2026. Senior officer Santosh Mehra of 1987 IPS batch, who is on central deputation, is retiring next month
Other IPS officers, including Abhilasha Bisht, Santosh Mehra, Manish Kumar Sinha and Abhishek Mohanty are serving in Telangana. In the case of Mohanty, CAT had directed the Telangana government to absorb the officer into Telangana cadre last year.
Among IAS officers, education secretary Vakati Karuna, finance secretary D Ronald Rose, director general of Environment Protection Training and Research Institute, A Vani Prasad and joint secretary of environment, forests, science and technology M Prashanti, who were allotted to AP, are serving in Telangana armed with CAT orders. IAS officers Srijana Gummalla, SS Lahoti, C Hari Kiran and G Anantha Ramu, who moved the CAT against cadre allotment and were not willing to go to Telangana, are serving in AP.