IAS Association locks horn with Keralam govt over appointment of Excise Commissioner

The legal dispute that erupted between the state government and the IAS Association in Keralam over the appointment of senior IPS officer M R Ajith Kumar (IPS:1995:KL) as the Excise Commissioner is threatening to take an ugly turn. The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) had ordered the cancellation of Kumar’s appointment as Excise Commissioner on the ground that only serving IAS officers can be appointed to cadre posts.

The CAT had also ruled that a two-year tenure should be ensured in a post and that the recommendation of the Civil Service Board must be sought for any transfer.

Following the tribunal’s order, IAS officer B Ashok (IAS:1998:KL), who had been transferred from the Agriculture Department, was posted to the Department of Sainik Welfare with the additional charge of the Youth Affairs.

The tribunal had earlier quashed B Ashok’s three transfers on the ground that they were done without following the rules.

What has opened a fresh front for confrontation between the govt and the IAS Association is the govt’s move to remove IPS officer Ajith Kumar from the post of Excise Commissioner following the tribunal’s order but handing over the charge to another IPS officer, J Kishore Kumar , serving as Additional Excise Commissioner (Administration).

The IAS Association feels that the state govt should have appointed an IAS officer as Excise Commissioner after removing Ajith Kumar and has now alleged that this move amounts to contempt of court, against which it is said to be planning to approach the tribunal on Monday.

Although the responsibility of implementing the court order lies with the Chief Secretary, the order removing Ajith Kumar and handing over charge was issued by the Additional Secretary of the Taxes Department, M V Pramod.

The IAS Association is likely to file a contempt petition, making the Taxes Secretary also a party to the case.

The CAT had clearly laid down that the posts of Excise Commissioner, Director General of the Institute of Management in Government (IMG), and Director General of the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) are IAS cadre posts to be held only by IAS officers.

The state government is reportedly going to approach the Kerala High Court seeking a stay on the CAT’s order.