The Union government has issued an urgent directive to all state governments, demanding a detailed status report on the constitution of Civil Services Boards (CSBs). This action comes more than a decade after the Supreme Court of India mandated the formation of these boards to ensure stability in the postings of civil servants and curb arbitrary transfers.
Decade-Old Mandate and the Latest Push
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), operating under the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, dispatched letters to the states on December 16. The communication explicitly asks whether the CSBs have been constituted in strict adherence to the Supreme Court's landmark order dated October 31, 2013.
This latest push from the Centre follows its own notification issued on January 28, 2014, which was meant to operationalize the apex court's judgment. The directive was prompted by a Right to Information (RTI) application filed on December 3 by whistleblower Sanjiv Chaturvedi, an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer of the Uttarakhand cadre.
What the SC Order and RTI Application Entail
The Supreme Court's 2013 judgment, reinforced by the DoPT's 2014 notification, established crucial safeguards for bureaucratic independence. It fixed a minimum tenure of two years for officers of the All India Services (IAS, IPS, and IFS). The rules made it mandatory for postings to cadre posts to be based on the recommendations of the constituted Civil Services Boards.
Furthermore, in instances where a state government disagrees with the board's recommendation, the Chief Minister is required to record the reasons in writing. The framework also obligates states to submit quarterly reports to the Centre, explaining any transfers made before the completion of the mandated minimum tenure.
In his comprehensive, five-point RTI plea, Chaturvedi sought:
- Certified copies of documents identifying states that have formed CSBs.
- Details of premature transfers of All India Service officers since the 2014 notification, in violation of tenure norms.
- Information on the scrutiny of Immovable Property Returns (IPR) of IAS, IPS, and IFS officers between January 2015 and December 2025.
- Details of criminal action taken in cases involving false asset declarations or disproportionate assets.
- Records related to approvals sought by states from the Centre and corresponding reports submitted.
Why Stability in Postings Matters
The Supreme Court had previously highlighted the detrimental impact of frequent transfers on governance. The court observed that a fixed minimum tenure empowers civil servants to function independently, enhances service delivery, and allows for the effective implementation of social and economic policies, especially those designed for marginalized communities.
This principle has been repeatedly emphasized by the Central government, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi also underscoring a policy of zero tolerance towards corruption. The establishment of CSBs is seen as a vital institutional mechanism to insulate the bureaucracy from political interference and ensure administrative continuity, which is fundamental to good governance.
The Centre's urgent call for a status report underscores a significant gap between policy intent and ground-level implementation, a decade after the judiciary's intervention. The response from the states will now reveal the extent to which the framework for stable bureaucratic tenures has been realized across India.
