The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has extended interim relief to eight Haryana Civil Services (HCS) officers whose promotion to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) has been stalled due to their alleged involvement in the 2002 HCS recruitment case. In its latest order passed on January 27, the tribunal directed that its earlier interim protection would continue until April 27, 2026, ensuring that the IAS select list does not lapse.
The eight officers who have received relief are Jagdeep Dhanda, Sarita Malik, Kamlesh Bhadoo, Kuldhir Singh, Vatsal Vashisht, Jag Niwas, Veena Hooda, and Surender Singh-1.
The matter traces back to July 2025, when the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) recommended the promotion of HCS officers to the IAS cadre. While 18 officers were granted regular promotion, the DPC recommended only “provisional” promotion for these eight officers due to a chargesheet filed against them in a Hisar court in connection with the alleged irregularities in the 2002 recruitment process.
Sources had indicated at the time that the eight officers were otherwise found fit for promotion, with the “provisional” status being linked solely to the pendency of the chargesheet. It was also clarified that if the chargesheets were quashed by the courts before December 31, 2025, their promotions would be regularised from the same date. If not, the recommendations were liable to lapse.
As the deadline approached and the matter remained unresolved, one of the affected officers moved the CAT seeking interim directions to ensure that the IAS select list did not lapse until the case was heard in detail. During the proceedings, the tribunal was informed that the High Court had already stayed the operation and effect of the chargesheet.
Taking note of the submissions, the CAT on December 23, 2025, ordered that the IAS select list should not lapse until January 6, 2026. After subsequent extensions, the tribunal, in its latest hearing on January 27, directed that the interim order of December 23 would continue until April 27, 2026.
The CAT’s order has provided temporary relief to the eight officers, though their final elevation to the IAS cadre remains subject to the outcome of the criminal proceedings.
Also Read: UPSC returns Haryana govt’s proposal to promote 27 HCS officers to IAS cadre
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