Amid the controversy over Haryana Government’s move to appoint an IPS officer on a cadre post meant for IAS officers, IPS Kala Ramachandran has been appointed as Principal Secretary, Transport Department.
An order in this regard was issued on Sunday by the office of Chief Secretary Vijai Vardhan. “The Governor of Haryana is pleased to make posting/transfer of the IPS officer with immediate effect,” the order stated.
The IPS officer has also been given additional charge of ADGP, crime against women.
Recently, senior IPS officer Shatrujeet Kapoor, who also holding the post of Principal Secretary, Transport was relieved of the charge after his appointment as the Director General of the State Vigilance Bureau.
After this, the name of another IPS officer Kala Ramachandran was proposed for the post.
However, Home Minister Anil Vij had refused to relieve the IPS officer insisting that the government has to seek prior approval of the DoPT before appointing an IPS officer to an IAS cadre post.
On the other hand, the Chief Minister’s office had backed the move to appoint the IPS officer on the cadre post meant for IAS officers.
Rule 9(2)(c) of the IAS cadre rules states that if a select list is not in force and it is proposed to appoint a non-select list officer, the State Government shall forthwith make a proposal to that effect to the Central Government together with the reasons thereof and the appointment shall be made only with the prior approval
of the Central Government.
The rules also state that a cadre post in a state shall not be filled by a person who is not a cadre officer except if there is no suitable cadre officer available for filling the vacancy.