Curious case of ‘suitcase’: IAS Association of Nagaland hits back at NCSA

Dimapur, July 31 (EMN): Clearly stung by the ‘suitcase bureaucrats’ statement made by the Nagaland Civil Service Association (NCSA), the IAS Association of Nagaland has accused its “sister association” of distorting facts for advancing untenable arguments.

The IAS association issued a statement on Friday saying that the NCSA has distastefully disparaged even the officers who made the supreme sacrifice by laying down their lives in the line of duty.

“The IAS officers, while they cut their teeth in field charges at subdivisions and districts level, at senior levels, they bring all their grassroots experience to policymaking role at the Centre and bring back the skills acquired from the Centre back to the state. Therefore, the movement of officers from state to Centre and vice versa is the very essence of the IAS. When an officer of Nagaland cadre serves on central deputation, the officer becomes the voice and agent of the state in Delhi.

“He or she also helps liaise between the Centre and state to ensure that maximum benefit is drawn for our state from the Centre’s policy. Several IAS officers from Nagaland cadre have occupied key posts in various ministries, departments etc. The same IAS officers are again sent back to the state to work in different capacities and for the smooth co-ordination with the Centre. The learning and wider outlook developed during the central stint is now employed for improvement of state-level governance. This is the essence and basic characteristic of the All India Service like IAS,” it stated.

According to the association, the IAS is the thread that binds the Centre and the state.

“This back and forth movement of IAS officers is a sine qua non for a good All India Service as envisioned by Constitution framers. Calling them ‘suitcase bureaucrats’ is not just demeaning but also portrays a complete ignorance of the role of IAS, which is fundamentally different to the state/provincial services. Living a life out of a suitcase, moving back and forth between Centre and state and on transfers amongst districts within Nagaland only showcases the dynamism and adaptability possessed by these officers as they provide leadership in various roles assuming multiple responsibilities in different geographical and cultural climates,” the statement read.

It cited the IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954, which, among others, delegate posts like deputy commissioners (district collectors), and commissioner (divisional commissioner/commissioner) concerning the district/division/state administration as IAS cadre posts.

“These posts must be filled up if eligible IAS officers are available in the state. It is not a choice to be accepted or rejected based on irrational justifications…The rules apply to all the states in the country and are followed throughout in all the states as per the directives of the DoPT, govt. of India,” it stated.

Like the IAS cadre posts, it pointed out, there are specific cadre posts reserved for NCS officers. “If these NCS cadre posts are filled with non-NCS persons will the NCSA be a mute spectator for the same whatever the justification may be?” it asked.

The total sanctioned strength of IAS cadre in Nagaland includes various deputation reserves and leave /training reserves etc., under which IAS officers avail deputation, leave and training opportunities as per IAS cadre rules, the association stated.

“In addition to the senior duty posts, the central deputation reserve allowed as per IAS cadre rules is 20 posts whereas presently only seven officers are serving on central deputation. There are sufficient IAS officers to fill vacant cadre posts,” it added.

The association maintained that there is no rivalry between the IAS and NCS; both work hand in hand and look after the administration of the state.

“Both the associations have also stood side by side to deal with common issues in the past. The objective of both the services is the same to serve the people of the state and to implement the government schemes and programmes in successful manner,” it stated.