Centre removes IAS officer Padma Jaiswal from service
Padma Jaiswal, a 2003-batch IAS officer of the Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram (AGMUT) cadre, has been removed from service by the Centre. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs, as the cadre-controlling authority, imposed the major penalty of removal after a prolonged disciplinary inquiry.
The order was issued on 12-13 May 2026 with final approval from the President on the recommendation of the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India.
The case stems from her tenure as Deputy Commissioner of West Kameng district in Arunachal Pradesh during 2007-2008. She was accused of misappropriating and mis utilising public funds, abusing her official position, and diverting government money.
A CBI chargesheet filed in late 2024 alleged the misappropriation of around ₹28 lakh, with some of the funds used to acquire properties in the names of her relatives. She was also charged with violating the All-India Services (Conduct) Rules by failing to maintain absolute integrity and devotion to duty.
Key timeline: February 2008: Residents filed a complaint alleging misappropriation of government revenue. April 2008: Placed under suspension (revoked October 2010), 2009-2010: Charge memoranda issued by MHA under the All-India Services (Discipline & Appeal) Rules.
Inquiry completed with inputs from the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), which recommended her removal from the service. The Central Administrative Tribunal initially set aside the proceedings, citing a lack of MHA jurisdiction. The Centre challenged this in the Delhi High Court. On April 1, 2026, the Delhi High Court ruled in favour of the Centre, restoring the disciplinary action, and the MHA finalised the penalty post-verdict.
At the time of removal, Jaiswal was serving as Special Secretary in the Administrative Reforms Department of the Delhi government, a post she joined on 16 February 2026. In her career, she held assignments across AGMUT jurisdictions, including secretarial roles in Puducherry, Goa, and Delhi departments such as Planning, Labour & Employment, and Social Welfare.
This is a rare instance of a serving IAS officer facing the ultimate major penalty of removal. Padma Jaiswal’s removal stands out as one of the rarest major penalties imposed on a serving senior IAS officer.
The 2003-batch AGMUT cadre officer was dismissed in May 2026 after an 18-year disciplinary process for misappropriating around ₹28 lakh in public funds during her 2007-08 tenure as Deputy Commissioner of West Kameng in Arunachal Pradesh. The case involved a CBI chargesheet, prolonged inquiry, CVC/UPSC recommendations, a CAT setback, and a Delhi High Court reversal before presidential approval.
Outright dismissals of IAS officers remain exceptionally uncommon. Official government data from 2014-19 showed just two such cases nationwide, including the dismissal of Pooja Khedkar of the Maharashtra cadre on corruption charges.
Most actions involve suspensions, compulsory retirement, or minor penalties rather than full removal. For AGMUT cadre officers, disciplinary matters are handled by the MHA in consultation with the UPSC and require presidential approval for final orders.
