20 civil servants demand end to monopoly of 'particular

Twenty civil servants including IPS and IRS officers today met union minister Jitendra Singh and demanded an end to the monopoly of a "particular service" in securing high-level appointments by putting in place a new system to choose competent candidates for such postings.
The representatives of Confederation of Civil Services Association (CoCSA) met Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office Singh with their demands.
"It was pointed out that the procedure being adopted over the years, favours only a particular service, discriminating against all others, which resulted in monopolising of posts at higher levels by only a particular service, which not only restricted the choice of the government but also was not in the national interest," a statement issued by the CoCSA said, apparently referring to Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

The confederation asked for a disruptive change in the procedure being adopted since long, and to put a new system in place which allowed competent and suitable persons, irrespective of service to which they belonged, to be selected for appropriate posts.
The confederation said there is urgency for reforms on which a decision can only be taken by the political executive at the highest level.
The officers' association had sought time from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to represent some issues of immediate concern. It was later conveyed to the confederation on behalf of the Prime Minister that the issues may first be discussed with the MoS PMO, the release said.

The CoCSA had earlier accused IAS officers of having vested interest in denying them proper promotion and deputation opportunities.

One of the long-pending demands of the confederation has been equal job opportunities as enjoyed by IAS officers.
IAS officers presently get a two-year edge over other services for getting empanelled to come on deputation at the Centre.
Besides, they also get two additional increments at the rate of three per cent over their basic pay at three promotion stages, promotion to the Senior Time Scale (STS), to the Junior Administrative Grade (JAG) and to the Non-Functional Selection Grade (NFSG) after putting in about four, eight and 13 years of service, respectively.

The federation comprises 20 civil services officers including Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Forest Service (IFoS), Indian Revenue Service (IRS), Indian Audit and Accounts Service and federation of Railway Officers Association (representing nine railway services).