Tribunal rules against Non-IAS appointments; MR Ajith Kumar removed from Excise Commissioner post

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a significant administrative shift, Excise Commissioner MR Ajith Kumar has been removed from his post following a decisive ruling by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). The tribunal's order mandates that only IAS officers be appointed to cadre positions, emphasising that such appointments and subsequent transfers must strictly follow the recommendations of the Civil Service Board. This directive clarified that the role of Excise Commissioner is a designated cadre post for the Indian Administrative Service, leading to the necessary departure of Ajith Kumar, who holds the rank of ADGP.

Following this development, an Additional Commissioner has been tasked with the temporary charge of the department. The ruling has broader implications for the state's bureaucracy, as Kerala currently maintains 261 IAS cadre posts, 126 of which are classified as senior positions. Under the new guidelines set by the CAT, IAS officers must be permitted to complete a minimum tenure of two years in a single post, with exceptions allowed only for promotions, retirements, or specific deputations exceeding two months.

The tribunal further stipulated that no transfer, appointment, or suspension can occur without a reasoned order from the Civil Service Board. This board, chaired by the Chief Secretary and including the Deputy Chief Secretary and Departmental Secretary, is now the primary authority for such personnel decisions. Furthermore, the government is now required to seek the formal willingness of officers before appointing them to commissions outside the standard government framework.

In its detailed judgment, the tribunal rejected a request from the state government to allow the transfer of officers who have served over two years without board oversight. The CAT also issued a stern warning to Chief Secretaries regarding past failures to adhere to these administrative rules, signaling a move toward stricter compliance and tenure stability within the state's civil services.