The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has ruled that the posts of Excise Commissioner, KILA Director, and Director General of IMG in Kerala are IAS cadre posts and must be filled by IAS officers.
The tribunal's Ernakulam bench held that cadre posts can only be held by IAS officers, and any non-IAS or retired IAS officers currently holding these positions will be removed forthwith.
The ruling will have a bearing on the current posting of senior IPS officer M R Ajithkumar as Excise Commissioner.
The CAT also directed that all appointments, transfers, and postings of IAS officers in Kerala must be done in consultation with the Civil Services Board and in accordance with the IAS Rules, 2014.
The tribunal declared that the posts of Excise Commissioner, Director Kerala Institute of Local Administration, and Director General, Institute of Management in Government are IAS cadre posts.
The state government has been directed to forward quarterly reports on IAS cadre posts and to make alternate arrangements for charge of those posts currently held by non-IAS officers.
