New Delhi : States cannot keep an IAS or IPS officer suspended for more than a month, as per new procedures issued on Wednesday by the Centre. Besides, state governments will have to inform the Centre within 48 hours about the suspension of an all India services officer–Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS).
The new procedure assumes importance as officers like Ashok Khemka, Sanjiv Chaturvedi, Durga Sakthi Nagpal and Kuldip Narayan, among others, have allegedly been victims of arbitrary suspensions and transfers.
The suspension of an IAS, IPS and IFoS officer, suspended on charges of corruption, shall not exceed two years except on the recommendation of the Central Review Committee, headed by Secretary in Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the latest procedures said.
Also, IAS officers working under central government cannot be suspended without the nod of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
An IAS, IPS and IFoS officer, when placed under suspension, the information in this regard shall be communicated to government of India expeditiously and within the period of forty-eight hours, an order issued by the DoPT said.
A copy of the suspension order along with the reasons or grounds of suspension shall be communicated to the Cadre Controlling authority in the Central government not later than 48 hours, it said.
“Where a state government passes an order for suspension of a member of service it will be valid for a period of thirty days from the date from which the member is placed under suspension. Further extension for thirty days requires confirmation by the central government,” the DoPT said.
