Jaipur. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to stop the proposed amendments in the rules related to the Indian Administrative Service. The Chief Minister has expressed apprehension that these proposed amendments will dilute the spirit of cooperative federalism enshrined in the Constitution. This will violate the constitutional jurisdiction prescribed for the Central and State Governments and will reduce the spirit of working fearlessly and faithfully in the All India Service officers posted in the state.
In his letter, Gehlot referred to the statement made by the country’s first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel during the debate on All India Service in the Constituent Assembly on 10 October 1949. Patel had said during the debate, “If you want an efficient all India service, I advise you to give opportunities to the services to express themselves freely. If you are a service recipient, it will be your duty to allow your secretary, or chief secretary, or other services under you to express their opinion without fear or favour. Without it you will not have Akhand Bharat.”
Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot writes to PM Modi urging him to stop Centre’s proposed amendment to IAS Cadre Rules
“Due to the amendments, the state’s efforts to attain the goals set by the Constitution and achieve the aim of public welfare will definitely suffer a blow”
(File pics) pic.twitter.com/1ItAqYRSK8
– ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2022
Gehlot has said in the letter that after this amendment, the Central Government will be able to call the officers of the All India Service on deputation to the Center without the consent of the concerned officer and the State Government.
He has said, “The framers of the Constitution of our country had conceptualized the All India Services keeping in mind the public welfare and the spirit of federalism. This modification will make the services vulnerable in future. Due to the amendment, the efforts of the states to achieve the goals set by the Constitution and the goals of public welfare will definitely get hurt.
The Chief Minister, drawing the attention of Prime Minister Modi in the letter, said that on 20 December 2021, the advice of the states was sought by the Central Government through a letter regarding the amendment in the All India Service Rules. During the process of seeking advice on this proposal, the Central Government has proposed a unilateral amendment and invited advice again on January 12.
read also
He has said that this proposed amendment also affects the prevailing cordial atmosphere between the Center and the states in the matter of posting of officers of the All India Service. Gehlot has expressed apprehension that this proposed amendment will affect the state administration due to lack of consent of the states in deputation of officers.
States will also face a shortage of officials in the implementation, policy-making and monitoring of plans. Gehlot has urged the Prime Minister to intervene and put a stop to the blow to the country’s constitution and autonomy of the states through these proposed amendments so that the spirit of federalism can be kept intact. (agency)