Know Everything About IAS Transfer And Posting Policies

The roles and responsibilities of an IAS officer are very crucial and important as well. Hence before you decide for becoming an IAS officer, you should know the rules governing the designation of this prestigious service. In this article, we are going to describe the transfer and posting policies for IAS officers.

Know Everything About IAS Transfer And Posting Policies

The roles and responsibilities of an IAS officer are very crucial and important as well. Hence before you decide for becoming an IAS officer, you should know the rules governing the designation of this prestigious service. In this article, we are going to describe the transfer and posting policies for IAS officers.

Transfer Rules of IAS Officers

Rules for the transfer of IAS officers are made by only the Central Government. However, the Central Government before the formation of rules consults with the State Government. The power of transfer lies in the hands of the Central Government. It is only the Central Government which can transfer the officers from one cadre to another. The major instance of cadre change observes in the case of Marriage of IAS officer with another IAS officer. In such cases, one officer is transferred to the Cadre of his or her spouse. Many times, it happens that both the officers are together transferred to some third cadre.

Rules For Transfer of IAS Officer Within the Same State

• The interstate transfer is permissible in case of marriage. The condition is that both the officers should be a member of All India Service. The transfer will not be automated, concerned officers have to apply for the cadre change.

• Considering the rare cases, it also happens in the past that officers are transferred on the grounds of some serious hardships in the area.

• It has to be noted an IAS officer is not permitted to get transfer to his home state.

• If officers want to change their cadre on the grounds of marriage, in the first instance, it has to ensure the Cadre of one of the spouses accepts the others' Cadre.

• If it happens that both the states deny accepting the spouse of the officer, the matter goes to the Government of India considered for the third cadre provided that the third cadre gives its consent for the same.

• Inter Cadre officer is not allowed to All India Service Officers if he or she gets married to an officer appointed in Central service/Public Sector Undertaking/State service or any other organization.

• The transfer is also possible in the case of ‘Extreme Hardship’. Extreme hardship is defined as a serious threat to life. When an IAS officer is suffering from serious life threats and health problems, he is eligible for transfer.

• The Central Government may also consider the transfer when an officer put forth the request on the grounds of serious threat. If in case, the request made by the officer is found genuine, the officer is given the transfer in the state of his or her choice for the first three years.

Posting Policies of Cadre Officers

Whenever a Cadre officer is appointed the appointment will be made by the State Government if it is a State Cadre. In the case of a Joint Cadre appointment, the appointment is done in consultation by the State Government.

The tenure of the officer is decided according to the terms of item 1 of the Schedule to the Indian Administrative Service (Fixation of Cadre Strength) Regulation, 1955, by Central Government with the consultation of State Government.

All the officers are bound to fulfill the minimum specified tenure as prescribed. However, in the case of promotion, inter-state deputation, and retirement, the tenure exceeds 2 months. In some cases, it is possible to transfer the Cadre officer before the expiry of minimum tenure but there needs a recommendation from the Committee or as per the schedule in annexed rules.

Exceptions are Always There

There are always some exceptions to rules formed that have to be followed in the rarest of rare conditions. Similarly, there are also some rules framed which are framed for some exceptions.

• State Government has the power to appoint the officer to refill the post of ex-cadre with the approval of the Central Government.

• State Government may also fill the post of the Cadre officer if there is an officer who is on the leave for a period which cannot exceed for the period of 6 months in any case.

• It has to be noted that only a Cadre officer can refill the vacant post of a Cadre officer and not another officer will be entertained for this purpose by the State Government.

• However, in all the above cases, the State Government has to take the approval of the Central Government in advance.

These exceptional conditions arise because according to the provisions, the post of the Cadre officer can’t be left empty for a period of 6 months without prior approval from the Central Government. For taking the approval, the State Government has to follow the protocol and present the report to the Central Government which contains details like reason, the period to be served for vacant post, and other essentials particulars.