The Court observed that IAS officers often try to assert their dominance over IPS and IFS officers, which has led to tension between these services.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday, 5th March, pointed out an ongoing conflict between officers from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Forest Service (IFS).
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The Court observed that IAS officers often try to assert their dominance over IPS and IFS officers, which has led to tension between these services.
A Bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and Augustine George Masih discussed this issue during the hearing of an environmental case. The matter arose when the Court was informed about IAS officers directing forest officers to follow their instructions, leading to disagreements.
Justice BR Gavai, sharing his personal experience, noted that this hierarchical battle exists in all states and creates resentment among IPS and IFS officers.
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He remarked,
“IAS always wants to show their supremacy over IPS or IFS. This is from my experience as a government pleader and judge as well. This conflict is there in all states and there is heartburn among IPS and IFS that ‘though they are from same cadre why should they be hearing IAS’,” he said.
This observation highlights a long-standing rivalry within the Indian bureaucracy. IAS officers, often seen as having more influence in government administration, are sometimes resented by their counterparts in IPS and IFS, who feel sidelined despite belonging to the same civil services structure.
Responding to the Court’s concerns, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who is the second senior-most law officer of the Central government, assured that efforts would be made to resolve these internal disputes. He told the Court that the government would look into the matter to ensure smoother coordination among officers from different services.
This statement indicates that the government acknowledges the issue and may consider measures to improve relations between IAS, IPS, and IFS officers.
The IAS, IPS, and IFS officers are all part of the All India Services, yet they often face internal conflicts regarding administrative control and decision-making power. IAS officers, who primarily handle policymaking and governance, are sometimes perceived as having greater authority, leading to frustration among IPS and IFS officers who have specialized roles in law enforcement and forest management, respectively.
CASE TITLE: IN RE : T.N. GODAVARMAN THIRUMULPAD Vs UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.| W.P.(C) No. 202/1995
