SHILLONG: Meghalaya does not figure among the states which comply with the directive of the Supreme Court to set up a Civil Services Board for IAS cadre.
The Civil Services Board to be constituted by states is entrusted with the task of transfers and postings of civil servants.
The aim of the Board is to prevent political interference and whimsical transfers and postings of the officers.
As per the new rule, the officers will spend a minimum of two years in each posting, which would prevent political interference. Before two years, the transfers and postings will only be decided by the Civil Services Board.
In Meghalaya, there are frequent transfers and postings of officials whereas some officials are posted in a place for several years. In a response to a RTI query by Delhi based Subhash Chandra Agrawal, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Union Government said that only six states are complying with the SC directive to set up a Civil Services Board for IAS cadre.
The six states are Chhatisgarh, Haryana, Mizoram, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Maharashtra
The Apex Court verdict was a result of the controversies related to Haryana cadre IAS Officer Ashok Khemka and UP cadre IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal who were penalised by the then respective state-governments for alleged misconduct. Both these officers had become public-heroes for their dutiful action against erring political heavyweights.
The RTI activist in a statement issued here said that all other state-governments should comply with Supreme Court directives by setting up Civil Service Boards in their respective states.