The Telangana High Court on Monday issued notices to the State government in a writ petition filed by a social activist challenging the posting of IPS officers in the cadre posts of IAS officers in the position of Principal Secretary.
Justice Surepalli Nanda of the HC, who heard the plea, directed the Chief Secretary to file counter affidavits in the matter, posting the hearing to December 10. The petitioner V. Srikanth’s counsel Vijay Gopal contended that the GO Rt. 1342 issued on September 26 (facilitating posting of IPS officers in the cadre of Principal Secretary) was illegal and unconstitutional. The GO was against the Indian Administrative Service (Cadre) Rules 1954 and the IAS (Fixation of Cadre Strength) Amendment Regulations-2016.
The counsel, presenting arguments before the judge, said that during a recent reshuffle of IPS officers the State government posted three of them, C.V. Anand, Shikha Goel and Stephen Ravindra, in the cadre of Principal Secretary. As per the rules, IAS officers were supposed to be posted in these positions, he said.
The petitioner stated that an IPS officer appointed as Home Secretary would have the powers to approve tapping of telephones under the Telecommunications Act-2023. The officer belonging to the police department taking such decisions would attract the provisions of ‘Doctrine of Bias’, he said.
The petitioner maintained that he had already submitted a representation to the Chief Secretary questioning the posting of IPS officers in Principal Secretary positions but no action was taken. He requested the HC to declare the action of the CS in the matter unconstitutional and pass an order to remove the IPS officers from the posts of Principal Secretary.
Published – December 01, 2025 08:10 pm IST
