Vijay Singh (IFoS:2011:MP), currently serving as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, has been re-designated as Director. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (11.03.2025), the competent authority has approved the proposal to re-designate Mr. Singh ’s post to Director level with effect from the date of assumption of charge of the re-designated post, and for a period up to November 27, 2029, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
It is noteworthy that Vijay Singh began his central deputation tenure on November 28, 2024.
P Kavin Maharaj (IOFS:2011) has been appointed as Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) in the VO Chidambaranar Port Authority (VoCPA), Thoothukudi, for three years. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (11.03.2025), the competent authority has approved the appointment of Mr Maharaj to the post for a period of three years from the date of taking over charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Harilal Kaippancheri Madhavan (ITradeS:2008), who was recommended for central deputation by the Department of Commerce, has been selected for appointment as Director in the Department of Sports, Delhi, for five years. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Wednesday (12.03.2025), Mr Madhavan will serve in the post under the central staffing scheme for a period of five years from the date of taking over charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the elevation of seven Advocates as Judges of the Rajasthan High Court. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Collegium held on March 5, 2025.
As IRDAI Chairperson Debashish Panda (Retd. IAS:1987:UP) set to complete his three-year tenure on March 13, speculation about his successor has begun. The Department of Financial Services invited applications for the position on March 10, making it too early to confirm a replacement.
Two names gaining traction in power corridors are former Defence Secretary Aramane Giridhar (Retd. IAS:1988:AP) and Economic Affairs Secretary Ajay Seth (IAS:1987:KN), who is set to retire on June 30, 2025.
In the interim, IRDAI’s senior-most member, PK Arora, is likely to take charge until a regular appointment is made. Given the April 6 deadline for applications and the time required for selection process, Arora is expected to hold the position temporarily.
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has strongly criticized CBDT’s transfer policy for favouring Group A officers while restricting lower-ranked employees from living with their spouses. In its March 4 order, CAT directed the CBDT chairman to reform this system within six months and create a fair, humane, and uniform policy for all employees.
Group C and D employees—inspectors, stenographers, and tax assistants—challenged the disparity, arguing that while Group A officers are assured spousal transfers, lower-ranked staff face a restrictive “loan basis transfer” policy, limiting them to five years and affecting their promotions. The petitioners claimed this violates Article 14 of the Constitution and contradicts a 2009 DoPT circular mandating spousal postings whenever possible.
The tribunal, citing a 2022 Supreme Court ruling, held that the policy undermines morale and deprives employees of their right to family life. It dismissed CBDT’s argument that employees accepted their postings upon joining, stating that career growth should not come at the cost of family separation.
Abhishek Mohanty (IPS:2010) will have to join the Andhra Pradesh cadre as the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Hyderabad Branch, on Tuesday, refused to grant him interim relief. However, the tribunal has issued notices to the Union of India, directing it to respond to his plea.
Mohanty, recently relieved from the Telangana cadre and his position as Police Commissioner of Karimnagar, had challenged the Union Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) decision to allot him to Andhra Pradesh. He argued that the authorities overlooked his domicile records and wrongly assessed his eligibility despite his longstanding ties to Hyderabad. Seeking relief, he requested CAT to suspend the MHA order until a final decision is made.
He emphasized that as a permanent resident of Hyderabad, he should have been allotted to the Telangana cadre under paragraph 5.1.3(I) of the Pratyush Sinha Committee’s recommendations. He also cited the case of IAS officer Lotheti Siva Sankar (IAS:2013), whose Telangana cadre allotment was recently overturned by CAT on domicile grounds, arguing that he deserved similar consideration.
Despite previous CAT and high court rulings affirming his Telangana domicile, Mohanty contended that the Union government failed to properly review this aspect when rejecting his representation. He urged the tribunal to direct the Centre to reconsider his case and allow him to continue serving in Telangana until a final verdict is reached.
Abhay Sharma (IRTS:2012) was on Tuesday (11.03.2025) transferred and posted as Director in the Passenger Marketing (Co-ordination), Railway Board. Currently, he is serving as Director (Fertilizer Movement), Department of Fertilizers in the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.
The Himachal Pradesh government on Monday (10.03.2025) transferred IPS officer Ilma Afroz (IPS:2018:HP) as SP Lahaul-Spiti. With her appointment, SP Kullu Karthikeyan Gokulachandran (IPS:2014:HP) will be relieved of the additional charge of SP Lahaul-Spiti.
Notably, the Himachal Pradesh High Court had recently rejected a PIL seeking Ilma Afroz’s appointment as SP Baddi. The court ruled that the government has the prerogative to decide the posting and deployment of officers. It also lifted the stay on her transfer, which had been in place since September 9, 2024, when the court had directed that she should not be transferred without its permission due to pending investigations in a sexual harassment case in Nalagarh.
As a result of the High Court’s stay, the government had been unable to transfer Ilma. However, when she resumed duty after nearly 40 days, she joined the police headquarters instead of Baddi. Since then, she had been serving at police headquarters until her latest posting.
The Department of Economic Affairs on Tuesday (11.03.2025) issued transfer and posting orders for three Indian Economic Service officers.
The names of the officers and their posting are as follows;
Md Alam Ansari (IES:2020), Deputy Director, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Director, DPIIT.
Md. Aftab Alam (IES:2021), Assistant Director, Department of Economic Affairs, has been transferred and posted as Assistant Director, Ministry of Coal.
Tashi Dolma (IES:2023), Assistant Director, Labour Bureau, Chandigarh, has been transferred and posted as Assistant Director, Ministry of Labour & Employment.
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