DG, home dept wants IPS for 3 IAS posts

Mumbai: The Director General of Police, Satish Mathur and the home department want to appoint IPS officers to three posts that have traditionally been the preserve of IAS officers. The posts are for Commissioner, Central Excise; Commissioner, Transport; and Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The general administration department is against the proposal and is of the view that these posts are manned by IAS officers. The proposal indicates a rift in the bureaucracy between IAS officials, sources told The Asian Age. The root behind the move is in the state excise department.

The chief minister Devendra Fadnavis-led general administration department is yet to give its opinion on the proposal but have a view that if  the department of Personnel and Training of the Union government will remove these posts from the IAS cadre, then such a move may be possible. Now it is up to the CM to take a decision on whether to send a proposal to the Union government or not, sources added.

DG Mathur has recently moved this proposal to the home department as these three commissioners do the work of enforcement and take criminal action against culprits. So it will be better if IPS officer are appointed on these posts, the DG opined in his proposal.

The Excise and Transport Commissioners are under home department and FDA commissioner is working under FDA department.

At present Transport Commissioner’s post is vacant and the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Pallavi Darade is working as a FDA Commissioner.

IAS Officer Ashwini Joshi is working as a Excise Commissioner who has taken strong action recently against 43 rooftop bars and pubs were running in five-seven stars hotels misusing one day party permit scheme for commercial purpose. After her action, BMC approved rooftop policy. Now ball is in the CM Fadnavis’s court.