THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has stayed the government order appointing B Ashok as the head of the local self-government reforms commission. The stay is for removing him from the principal secretary post of the agriculture department. The stay is from the Ernakulam Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal. With this, Ashok can return to the post of principal secretary of the agriculture department.

Ashok had written a letter to the chief secretary stating that he cannot assume the post based on the order that does not comply with the rules. Ashok argued that the Supreme Court order that prior permission should be taken from the officer when appointing to a post outside the IAS cadre was not followed in his case.

The rule that an officer holding an important position in the administrative service and holding a cadre post cannot be transferred outside the cadre was also violated. The chairmanship of the administrative reforms commission, which is an independent body, is outside the cadre. It cannot be taken over. He has worked in the local government department for only four months so far. In his letter to the chief secretary, B Ashok pointed that there are many IAS officers with years of experience in the service.

Dr B Ashok was appointed as the chairman of local self-government reforms commission without the permission of the central government. According to the Civil Service Amendment Act, prior permission from the central personnel ministry is required for the appointment of civil service officers as commissions and tribunals. For this, the state government can send a recommendation to the Center. The files of those up to the rank of joint secretary at the Center must be approved by the minister of state for personnel and those above that must be approved by the Prime Minister, who is in charge of the Ministry of Personnel. Legal experts also clarified that since Ashok has the rank of senior additional secretary at the Center, he cannot be appointed as a chief of the commission without the permission of the Prime Minister.

The amendment to the Act requiring permission was brought to prevent civil servants from being appointed for investigations against the Center. The Cabinet decided to appoint Ashok without considering this.

Commission has charge of making recommendations only
1) The present local laws should be reviewed based on development and environmental protection and make recommendations.
2) Recommendations should be made to make maximum services available to the people online without having to come to the office.
3) The laws, rules and guidelines of other states can be examined and useful things can be recommended
4) Recommendations to revise the current rules on mobile apps, e-office and digitalization
5) Recommendations can be made to ensure availability of funds for the implementation of projects. International models can also be suggested.
6) Recommendations should be made to make the services of local institutions people-friendly and to increase resources.

Term: One year
The term of the commission is one year. Local officials will be reassigned to the commission.
The expenses should be borne by the finance department. The vehicle and driver should be provided by the tourism department.