T.N. autonomy involved: Gehlot

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, AUG. 2. The Rajasthan Chief Minister, Mr. Ashok Gehlot, has expressed concern over the Centre requisitioning IPS officers working in Tamil Nadu on deputation saying it involved the autonomy of the State Government.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr. A. B. Vajpayee, yesterday, Mr. Gehlot pointed out that the BJP, while in the Opposition, had a different set of norms altogether on Centre- State relationships. ``At the time when the BJP was in the Opposition at the Centre, the rights of the States used to be taken up very vehemently on the grounds of administrative independence and autonomy of the State,'' he said.

``The timing and context in which the services of these officers have been requisitioned indicate clear political motivations,'' Mr. Gehlot wrote. He sought Mr. Vajpayee's intervention to ``remove the serious anomaly'' of the present action which would have ``widespread impact on the whole issue of Centre-State relations''.

Mr. Gehlot drew the Prime Minister's attention to Rule 6 of the Indian Police Service (Cadre) Rules, 1954, which states that the concurrence of a State Government shall be obtained while deputing cadre officers for service under the Centre. ``The normal procedure is for the State Government to prepare a list of such eligible officers from which the Government of India selects officers for deputation with the Central Government.''

In the present case, the names of the officers were not recommended by the State Government for deputation but were ``directly and unilaterally'' requisitioned for positing as Officers on Special Duty by the Central Government, Mr. Gehlot reminded the Prime Minister. The accepted procedure was to circulate the names of officers prepared by the State Government to the Ministries where vacancies existed and then issue final orders from the Appointment Committee of the Cabinet.

``The State Government is then requested to relieve the officers for deputation under the Central Government. It is only in the case of any disagreement that the decision of the Central Government would prevail,'' Mr. Gehlot noted.

Mr. Gehlot expressed the view that any deviation from the set procedures would affect the morale of both the State Government and the officers concerned. ``The sanctity of these rules has been strictly maintained over the years. Adhering to these rules would help in better cadre management as also amicable relations between the Centre and the State,'' he said.

``This move shall be very sternly opposed as it adversely affects the ability of the State Government to manage its cadre of the seniormost police officers of the State,'' Mr. Gehlot said, adding the Centre's present stand could not be accepted or condoned by any standard. A copy of the letter has been sent to Ms. Jayalalithaa.

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