Other civil servants upset with IAS

New Delhi, Sept. 8: An umbrella body of civil servants that includes IPS and IRS service associations has accused the Indian Administrative Service of denying other services proper promotion and deputation avenues. The Confederation of Civil Services Association has submitted a memorandum to minister of state for personnel Jitender Singh listing its complaints against the IAS, which it described as a "privileged service". The move followed apprehensions that the task force set up by the government to study the cadre structure of Group "A" services would end up as another "sham" exercise to maintain the stranglehold of the IAS over the bureaucracy. The COCSA warned of a chaotic situation if the current stagnation was not addressed. The COCSA's plea - a long-standing one - is that despite clearing the same exam as those in the IAS, members of the allied services were not treated on a par either in status or in promotions. They also want to be considered for empanelment on a par with the IAS for posts of joint secretary and above. On August 22, the department of personnel and training had set up a task force for a comprehensive study on the cadre structure of organised Group "A" central services. The task force has been mandated to recommend an ideal structure for members of these services - which constitute the bulk of the bureaucracy - at apex, higher administrative grade (HAG) and senior administrative grade (SAG) levels and also ways to address the stagnation in these services. "While Group A services people complain about the high-handedness of the IAS, they themselves treat those in Group B services no differently, though all have come through the same civil services examination," said an officer. The COCSA is an umbrella organisation comprising service associations of various organized civil services, including the Indian Revenue Service, Indian Police Service, Indian Audit & Accounts Service, Indian Forest Service, Indian Revenue Service (customs and central excise), Indian P&T Accounts & Finance Service, Indian Postal Service, Indian Trade Service, Federation of Railway Officers Associations (representing nine railway services), Indian Civil Accounts Service, Indian Defence Accounts Service and the Indian Information Service.