Mumbai: The general administration department (GAD) led by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday inducted 23 deputy collectors into the IAS on promotion. It was for the first time in the recent history of the state administration that so many state cadre officers have been inducted in the prestigious Indian Administrative Service.
Most of these officers had joined state civil services as deputy collectors in 1997-98 and were inducted in IAS after putting up nearly 26-year service. “Compared to most of the southern states, there was long wait for induction in the IAS. In southern states, a deputy collector is inducted in the IAS in 12 to 13 years, whereas in Maharashtra it takes a minimum of 25 years and even 30 years, many deputy collectors get less than two to three years in the IAS. It’s a very disappointing situation,” a deputy collector told TOI.
The deputy collector said, the delay in the current year was owing to code of conduct in the force, first during the Lok Sabha elections, followed by state assembly polls. The meeting of the promotion committee could not be held following the code of conduct in force, he said.
On the prolonged delay in induction in IAS, the deputy collector felt that it was owing to a smaller number of vacancies for the state cadre officers. As per rules, at least 30 per cent of the total strength of IAS in the state, should be on central deputation, which comes to nearly 90, However, in Maharashtra, it was found that currently, only 14 officers are on central deputation, as a result, there are a few vacancies for state cadre officers.
“It is the responsibility of the GAD led by the CM to ensure balance between direct and state cadre officers, otherwise, there will be no end to injustice,” he said.
