NON-CADRE BABUS GAIN ASCENDANCY

It is a rising trend and it has got cadre officers in Telangana worried. Since the past one year, even as IAS and IPS cadre officials await new postings as district collectors or superintendents of police, the state government has been filling the positions with non-cadre officers. Sources say that in Telangana, at least 27 non-cadre officers are in cadre posts such as district collectors, managing directors of discoms, or heading departments such as horticulture and marketing, among others. At least three to four non-cadre officers are heading IPS positions as superintendents of police.

Those in the know say that a reshuffle last year created a stir when the government appointed many senior IAS officers to non-cadre posts and named non-cadre officers to cadre posts. More recently, the government appointed three noncadre officers as collectors in Narayanpet, Mulugu and Vikarabad districts.

Consequently, IAS and IPS officers are extremely concerned about this trend, which is depriving them of occupying posts traditionally allotted to them. However, it is being pointed out that Telangana is not alone and this trend is also being seen in states like Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. Apparently, there is no laid down rule that states a noncadre officer cannot be appointed to a cadre post. But IAS babus say that cadre officers will feel “demoralised” if this trend continues.