Bifurcation blues still haunt some babus

Regardless of the outcome of the Assembly elections in Telangana, at least 11 All India Service officers, be it IAS or IPS, may have to work with a ‘new’ government, irrespective of their individual territorial preferences. For, their future seems to hinge on a verdict of the Telangana High Court. Post bifurcation, 637 All India Service officers had been allocated between the two Telugu states. However, 16 IAS and IPS officers, having obtained orders from the Central Administrative Tribunal, have continued serving in Telangana and AP states as per their choices. There are others who had been allocated to Telangana but are working in AP and vice versa. For instance, Telangana’s former Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar had been allotted to AP, but served in Telangana. Following the TS High Court’s verdict, Somesh Kumar reported for duty to the AP government, but resigned subsequently. Like Somesh Kumar, there are 11 IAS/ IPS officers working in Telangana despite being allocated to AP. The Union government’s position is that the verdict of the Telangana High Court in the case relating to Somesh Kumar is applicable also to these 11 AIS officers. Should the TS High Court agree with the Centre’s position, the 11 IAS/IPS officers, though currently working in Telangana, will have to join the AP government. That is, these officers will have to work not only with a ‘new’ government but also in a new state.