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SC refuses to stay disciplinary proceedings against IRS Sameer Wankhede

By
LO Bureau
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Sameer Wankhede IRS

In yet another twist in Mumbai’s Cordelia cruise drug seizure case involving 2008-batch IRS officer Sameer Wankhede, the Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to overturn the Delhi High Court’s order that permitted the Centre and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) to move forward with disciplinary proceedings against Wankhede.

The IRS officer was posted as Zonal Director of the Mumbai Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) when the Cordelia cruise drug seizure case took place in 2021.  

The Supreme Court bench comprising Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe allowed Wankhede to file his response within two weeks and also directed the authorities to reconsider the appointment of the inquiry officers after taking his reply into account. Wankhede had argued that the inquiry officer was appointed without giving him sufficient time to represent his case.

The justices, while refusing to interfere with the High Court’s order, noted that the appointment of the inquiry officer as well as the presenting officer on March 7, 2026, was made without giving sufficient opportunity to the petitioner to file a reply to the chargesheet. The bench permitted two weeks’ time to the petitioner to represent himself and file a reply.

It should be recalled that the Delhi High Court had overturned a Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT)’s order quashing disciplinary proceedings against Wankhede on February 27.

A bench of Delhi HC Justices Anil Kshetarpal and Amit Mahajan had held that the CAT should not have interfered at the stage when only a charge memorandum had been issued.

The disciplinary action against Wankhede was initiated in the 2021 Cordelia cruise drug seizure case that had led to the arrest of noted actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son, Aryan Khan.

Odisha DGP pulls up 36 IPS for being absent from police functions

By
LO Bureau
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Odisha DGP pulls up IPS

Odisha DGP Y B Khurania (IPS:1990:OD) is reportedly piqued with several IPS officers posted in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack for their frequent absence from official functions of the state police organized in the twin cities.

It came to light after the state police headquarters dispatched a letter to 36 IPS officers on Monday directing them to attend all police-organized events.

The letter signed by Additional Director General (Headquarters) Prateek Mohanty (IPS:2000:OD) says that the DGP has observed that many senior officers have not been attending official functions organised by different verticals of Odisha police. The letter asks them to attend the said official functions without fail.

This directive has excluded those officers who are posted in the vigilance department, fire and emergency services, and prisons directorate, as these wings are not under the administrative control of state police.

The order further directs these officers to essentially seek specific exemption from the DGP if they are unable to attend these functions due to unavoidable official commitments.

According to police sources, this action was taken after DGP Khurania took serious note of IPS officers’ absence during a felicitation ceremony at Police Bhawan on Monday. The event had been organized to honour sports personnel in the state police who brought laurels to the force by their performances in national and state-level competitions.

A police official said that the DGP virtually wants to ensure discipline and collective representation at official gatherings. He, however, also added that the order should not be treated as a diktat but as an attempt to ensure their active participation on such occasions.



Periasamy Kumaran appointed India’s High Commissioner to UK

By
LO Bureau
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Periasamy Kumaran IFS

Senior diplomat Periasamy Kumaran (IFS:1992) has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom. Kumaran is currently serving as Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, a position he has held since April 1, 2025.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said that he is expected to take up the assignment shortly.

On March 25, Rudrendra Tandon (IFS:1994) was appointed as Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs in place of Kumaran, indicating that his next assignment was imminent.

He will succeed Vikram K Doraiswami (IFS:1992), who has been serving as India’s High Commissioner to the UK since August 2022.

180 IAS being recruited every year: Jitendra Prasad in LS

By
LO Bureau
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Women's represenation in IAS

The Union Government has said that vacancies in IAS and other services are regularly assessed, and all advertised IAS vacancies are filled while considering the reservation guidelines issued by the government. A total of 180 candidates have been recruited to the IAS through the Civil Services Examination each year since 2012, with 4 percent of these seats reserved for candidates with benchmark disabilities (PwBD).

This information was shared in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister of Personnel and Training Jitendra Prasad in a written reply on Wednesday.  

Earlier, when the government had shared detailed data on backlog vacancies in the Indian bureaucracy, the opposition parties had raised the issue of the government being silent on the numbers of civil servants belonging to the reserved categories working in the country.

Prasad added that currently, there are no backlog vacancies in the IAS as well as no backlog reserved posts in the IPS as of January 1, 2025.

The Personnel Minister also clarified that over the past five years, 245 candidates from the Other Backward Classes (OBC), 135 from Scheduled Castes (SC), and 67 from Scheduled Tribes (ST) have been appointed to the IAS.

Similarly, 255 individuals from the OBC, 141 from SC, and 71 from ST have been appointed to the IPS during the same period (CSE 2020 to CSE 2024).

In a separate reply, the minister said that there are currently 1,029 vacant posts for Indian Forest Service (IFoS) officers, with a sanctioned strength of 3,193.

Prasad further added that recruitment is a continuous process, and vacancies in these services are filled on a year-to-year basis considering the administrative requirements across the states as well as promotion prospects and career growth available to the officers.

Singh also mentioned that detailed information regarding sanctioned posts, personnel in position, and vacancies in various ministries and departments of the Union government is available in the annual reports of the Pay Research Unit, Department of Expenditure, which are publicly accessible.

In a separate response, he said that maintenance of detailed information regarding vacancies is the responsibility of the respective cadre controlling authorities/ministries/departments.

Singh was asked whether the government has conducted any preliminary study regarding estimated positions sanctioned, in position and vacancies across all central government ministries and departments.

The minister said that the occurrence and filling-up of vacant posts in various ministries/departments is a continuous process and that instructions are issued from time to time to ministries/departments for the filling of vacant posts in a time-bound manner.

He further informed the Lower House that vacancies in the Union government have been addressed in a mission-mode approach, with several lakh appointment letters distributed to recommended or selected candidates during the national Rozgar Mela events held since October 2022.

Supreme Court’s decision halts promotion of several HCS officers to IAS

By
LO Bureau
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SC's guidelines to HCs

In a major blow to career prospects of several Haryana Civil Service (HCS) officers, the Supreme Court has temporarily halted their promotion to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) by staying a Punjab and Haryana High Court’s order and thereby reviving long-pending cases against them.

The High Court had, in its earlier order, quashed FIRs and chargesheets filed against these officers in connection with alleged irregularities in the 2001–02 recruitment process. It means the top court has revived those cases, which are bound to hamper their prospects of being elevated to the IAS cadre.

The SC’s decision once again highlights how long-pending legal disputes can effectively impact careers of administrative officers and structures of governance.

The High Court had quashed those cases—nearly two decades old—on the ground that they lacked sufficient investigation while terming the chargesheets invalid. The HC order had cleared the way for the HCS officers’ promotion to IAS.

But the state govt moved the Supreme Court against it and has secured a stay on it, stating that such serious allegations require detailed examination on merit.

Now, these officers fall under the “tainted” category, with the FIRs and legal proceedings having been effectively revived by the apex court. It comes in their way of promotion, as the vigilance clearance is mandatory for elevation to the IAS.

This means that even if their names figure on the promotion list, the Union Public Service Commission will not entertain their cases until the matter is resolved.

There are about a dozen of such HCS officers, who are going to be impacted by the apex court’s decision. The officers who are likely to miss the bus are Jagdeep Dhanda, Kuldeep Singh, Surender Singh, Veena Hooda, Jag Niwas, Kamlesh Bhadu, Vatsal Vashisht, and Sarita Malik.

Though this is not the final outcome, the legal uncertainty continues to cloud the future of these officers till it is decided by the Supreme Court.

Union Govt introduces CAPF bill in RS, amid dissent from opposition bench

By
LO Bureau
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CAPF Bill introduced

The Union Government finally tabled the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026, in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Nityanand Rai tabled the bill despite objections from opposition members who submitted notices against its introduction.

The proposed legislation aims to create a unified legal framework for all five Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)—Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB). The bill formalizes the deputation of IPS officers at senior levels in the CAPFs, a move opposed by CAPF personnel.

The bill proposes to reserve 50% of IG posts, 67% of Additional Director General (ADG) posts, and all posts of Special DG and DG ranks in the CAPFs for IPS officers on deputation, with rules under the Act overriding any conflicting provisions.

The bill says IPS officers are essential for effective functioning of the central paramilitary forces and Centre–State coordination. However, the CAPF associations have opposed the proposals, citing career stagnation among cadre officers.

According to Rai, the objective of the bill is solely to clarify the administrative framework, recruitment processes, and service-related matters of the Central Armed Police Forces.

The opposition Congress opposed the bill, saying it contravenes the Supreme Court’s order and undermines multiple legal victories secured by former CAPF officials in various courts.

It needs to be mentioned here that the Supreme Court, in its verdict on May 23, 2025, had directed the Centre to “progressively reduce” IPS deputation to CAPFs and conduct a cadre review within six months.

The Centre later moved the petition in the apex court to review its decision, but it was dismissed by the top court, making its order final. It was when the Union Cabinet approved the draft bill to formalize the IPS deputation to CAPFs through statutory intervention.

Congress leader Ajay Maken, who also happens to be a former Minister of State for Home, opposed the bill, arguing that it is detrimental to cadre officers. Maken raised the issue of career stagnation, saying it takes nearly 30 years to become an ADG, 20 years to become a DIG, and 15 years to become a senior commandant. In contrast, an IPS officer can become an SP or DIG within seven years and outrank a senior commandant.

But YSRCP MP Golla Babu Rao supported it, saying the legislation would bring administrative clarity and operational efficiency through a unified framework. He, however, urged the govt. to refer the bill to a parliamentary committee with CAPF representation, as it would impact the careers of over a million personnel.

However, various opposition party MPs moved the notices against the introduction of the bill.

Roopa Mishra gets 6-month extension as MoHUA Joint Secretary

By
LO Bureau
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Roopa Mishra IAS

IAS Officer Roopa Mishra (IAS:2004:OD) has been given a six-month extension as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Wednesday (March 25, 2026), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal to extend her deputation tenure February 2, 2026 for six months or until further orders.

Roopa Mishra has been working in this post since August 24, 2021.

She had come on central deputation for five years. Her term was to end on February 2, 2025. Before that, she was given a one-year extension till February 2026. Now, her tenure has been extended again by six months.

Before this role, she served as Director in the Ministry of Jal Shakti. She was handling Drinking Water and Sanitation from February 2020.

Senior diplomat Rudrendra Tandon appointed Secretary (East) in MEA

By
LO Bureau
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Rudrendra Tandon IFS

Senior diplomat Rudrendra Tandon (IFS:1994) has been appointed Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training on Wednesday (March 25, 2026), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved his appointment. He will replace Periasamy Kumaran (IFS:1992), who has been in the post since April 1, 2025.

Tandon is currently serving as Ambassador of India to Greece. He has been in this role since June 27, 2023.

The Secretary (East) handles India’s relations with countries in East and Southeast Asia. The division also looks after ties with parts of the Indo-Pacific, Oceania and some regions of the Americas.

Earlier, Tandon served as Additional Secretary handling BIMSTEC and SAARC in the Ministry of External Affairs.

He has worked in several Indian missions abroad. These include postings in Paris, Algiers, Kabul and Moscow. He has also served as Consul General in Jalalabad.

He was Ambassador to the ASEAN Secretariat from July 2018 to August 2020. He later served as Ambassador to Afghanistan from September 2020 to August 2021.

In India, he has held roles such as Under Secretary (Pakistan), Director in the Prime Minister’s Office, Director (Pakistan), Joint Secretary (PAI) and Joint Secretary (UNP).

Two Uttarakhand IPS now move CAT against central deputation to lower posts

By
LO Bureau
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Corruption cases involving IAS under RIT scrutiny

Two senior Uttarakhand IPS officers – Neeru Garg (IPS:2005:UK) and Arun Mohan Joshi (IPS:2006:UK) – have now challenged their central deputation in the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) after being advised to do so by the High Court. Both these officers have been contesting their deputation to the central forces to a lower-rank and without their consent.

Both the officers are currently serving as IGs in Uttarakhand, but have been directed to take up postings in central paramilitary forces as DIGs. While Neeru Garg has been deputed as DIG in the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Arun Mohan Joshi is supposed to join as DIG in the Border Security Force (BSF) on deputation.

Both these IPS officers have argued that they neither requested for central deputation nor consented to it, yet the state govt forwarded their names to the Centre for deputation.

Besides, both officers had previously received exemptions from central postings. The officers claim the action violates established norms of service, including rights under the Administrative Tribunals Act, which governs grievances of central and state service officers.

They first moved the High Court, which directed them the CAT, saying the tribunal is the proper forum for service-related disputes of this nature.

The ruling by the CAT will be watched closely as it will have implications on future deputation policies adopted by the Centre as well as the state govt.

Also, this case could set a precedent for other bureaucrats resisting central deputation that affects their ranks resulting in career progression.

CBI files FIR against Bihar IAS Sanjeev Hans for corruption

By
LO Bureau
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Corruption case against IAS

In an important development, the CBI has registered an FIR against controversial Bihar cadre IAS officer Sanjeev Hans (IAS:1997:BH) and several others following allegations of receiving a bribe to secure favourable orders from the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) in a buyer-builder dispute.

According to sources, Sanjeev Hans, who was serving as Private Secretary to the then Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, allegedly conspired with Vipul Bansal, an employee of RNA Corporation, and others to accept undue advantage from the promoters of East & West Builders.

It is alleged that Vipul Bansal approached Hans to influence proceedings in a builder-buyer dispute involving East & West Builders, a sister concern of the RNA Corporation as the Ministry of Consumer Affairs is the nodal ministry for the NCDRC.

According to the FIR, a meeting was arranged between Hans and Anubhav Agarwal, one of the promoters of the RNA Group, during which a bribe of ₹1 crore was finalized in lieu of favourable orders from the NCDRC.

The CBI has alleged that Hans subsequently facilitated two favourable hearing dates for East & West Builders. In addition, Hans also ensured that Saranga Agarwal, a promoter/director of the company, was not arrested in the case. In return for these favours, ₹1 crore bribe was allegedly paid through intermediaries.

According to CBI sources, the bribe amount was routed in multiple tranches through associates Shadab Khan and Pushpraj Bajaj whose contact details were shared with Bansal to facilitate the transfer of funds. Investigators suspect that Bajaj played a role in laundering the proceeds, while coded communications were used among the accused to coordinate payments through hawala channels.

The CB case has been registered under sections linked to criminal conspiracy and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The CBI SP Anil Kumar Yadav is supervising investigation, which is trying  to verify the allegations and trace the money trail.

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