CAT directs MHA to give Punjab cadre to IPS officer Amanat Mann

Setting aside the allotment of Uttar Pradesh cadre to an IPS officer, the Chandigarh bench of Central Administrative Tribunal on Thursday directed Union home ministry,

Setting aside the allotment of Uttar Pradesh cadre to an IPS officer, the Chandigarh bench of Central Administrative Tribunal on Thursday directed Union home ministry, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and ministry of personnel to allot Punjab cadre to the applicant.

The order stated, “The applicant is entitled to be allotted the Punjab cadre and the notification dated May 7, 2014, related to allotment of UP cadre to her deserved to be set aside.” (HT Representative Image)

Amanat Mann, an IPS officer, currently residing in Panchkula, had opted for Punjab, Haryana and UT as preference of cadre in the form for the Indian Civil Services in 2012. She cracked the examination, but was given UP cadre instead. The order stated, “The applicant is entitled to be allotted the Punjab cadre and the notification dated May 7, 2014, related to allotment of UP cadre to her deserved to be set aside.”

THE CASE

Amanat Mann secured 194th rank in the country and she was first among the candidates who cracked the IPS from Punjab that year. As per her plea, no other candidate from any category in the state secured more marks than her. She was sent for training on November 20, 2013, to the Police Academy, Hyderabad.

The Centre had recommended granting five IPS vacancies to Punjab cadre and framed a roster for determining the categorisation of vacancies to be filled up. As per the applicant’s plea, the roster was to operate in such a way that no two consecutive posts were filled up with OBC candidates and due representation was given to all categories. She had deposed that two insider vacancies were allotted to OBC candidates, but since only one of them was available, the second vacancy was “wrongly” given to a SC candidate.

Being ranked first in her home state in general category, Amanat said she was shocked to see the notification wherein she had been allocated UP cadre and all 4 Punjab-cadre posts had been filled with candidates from reserved category candidates. She then moved the tribunal, challenging the notification.