In its attempt to end arbitrary political transfers of bureaucrats, the UPA Government has succeeded in persuading several states to agree to a minimum two-year tenure for all IAS cadre postings.

Once implemented throughout the country, the move is expected to provide stability of tenure to approximately 2,900 IAS cadre posts in the states.

Significantly, at a point when three states Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Karnataka have already notified this new tenure rule, the Centre is in touch with other state Chief Secretaries to implement this major administrative reform.

The two-year rule is now to be extended to two other key posts in the states: that of the Chief Secretary and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF).

The Centre has also introduced a fresh clause in the rules whereby the two-year minimum tenure can only be bypassed by a “speaking order” issued by the state Chief Secretary listing out the exceptional circumstances why the IAS officer was to be suddenly transferred.

DoPT Minister Suresh Pachauri informed Parliament last session that Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat were among States which have “not agreed” to the minimum tenure rule.

Earlier, the Government secured a minimum two-year tenure for key postings in New Delhi including that of the Cabinet Secretary, the Union Home Secretary, the Defence Secretary, the heads of intelligence agencies and the director of the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Confirming this, Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training Secretary, Satyananda Mishra told The Indian Express: “The idea behind fixing a minimum tenure in the states is to give a sense of stability to the occupants of these posts and for them to have less fear of any authority and be more objective in their functioning.”

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