2 IPS officers challenging Centre’s deputation order told to approach CAT

Dehradun: A division bench of the Uttarakhand high court (HC), comprising Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta and Justice Subhash Upadhyay, disposed of a petition filed by two IPS officers -- Neeru Garg and Arun Mohan Joshi -- challenging their deputation as deputy inspector general (DIG) by the Union ministry of home affairs. The court on Monday upheld the Centre's order and directed the officers to approach the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).During the hearing, the central govt argued that IPS officers are employees of the Centre, who are deployed to states for service and can be recalled on deputation whenever required. It submitted that any grievances related to such service matters fall within the jurisdiction of the CAT, which was specifically constituted to address such disputes. The govt also contended that the officers had bypassed the tribunal by directly approaching the HC, contrary to service rules, rendering their petition not maintainable.The petitioners, however, argued that they currently hold the rank of inspector general (IG) and that their deputation to DIG-level posts effectively amounts to a demotion.According to case records, Garg, a 2005-batch officer serving as inspector general (fire services) in Uttarakhand, was appointed as DIG in the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). Joshi, a 2006-batch officer and IG (CID) in Uttarakhand, was appointed as DIG in the Border Security Force (BSF). Both appointments were made by the ministry through an order dated March 5.Subsequently, the Uttarakhand govt issued a directive on March 6, relieving the officers from their state duties, which they challenged before the HC.