CAT Orders MHA to Allot Punjab Cadre to Amanat Mann IPS, Cancels UP Posting

In a significant judgment favoring IPS officer Amanat Mann, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Chandigarh Bench, has directed the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to reassign her to the Punjab cadre, overturning the previous allotment of the Uttar Pradesh (UP) cadre.

The tribunal’s order, issued on Thursday, also directed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the Ministry of Personnel to comply with the revised cadre allocation.

Amanat Mann IPS

CAT Rules in Favor of Amanat Mann IPS

The bench observed that Amanat Mann IPS had been wrongfully allotted the UP cadre despite having clearly listed Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh (UT) as her preferred cadre choices in her Indian Civil Services (2012) application form.

The tribunal stated in its order:

“The applicant is entitled to be allotted the Punjab cadre, and the notification dated May 7, 2014, related to the allotment of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, deserves to be set aside.”

This directive marks a major legal victory for IPS officer Amanat Mann, who had long challenged the cadre allocation process on grounds of procedural irregularity and fairness.

Amanat Mann: Top IPS Rank Holder from Punjab

Amanat Mann, who hails from Panchkula, secured an All India Rank of 194 in the Civil Services Examination of 2012, emerging as the top-ranked IPS candidate from Punjab that year.

According to her petition, no other candidate from Punjab, across any category, had scored higher than her. Despite that, she was assigned to the Uttar Pradesh cadre, while all four Punjab-cadre IPS vacancies were filled by candidates from reserved categories.

The CAT ruling recognized this imbalance, emphasizing that cadre allocations must ensure fair representation of all categories, as per the government’s roster policy.

The Case and Tribunal’s Observation

As detailed in the case records, Amanat Mann IPS joined training at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) in Hyderabad on November 20, 2013. However, she filed her petition after realizing that her cadre preferences had not been honored.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had initially stated that five IPS vacancies were assigned to Punjab for that year. As per the roster policy, these were to be distributed in such a manner that no two consecutive posts were allocated to candidates from the same reserved category.

Mann argued that this rule had been violated, as two insider vacancies were both allotted to OBC candidates, leaving her general category seat incorrectly diverted to a Scheduled Caste candidate.

The tribunal accepted her contention, ruling that the cadre allocation process was not executed as per prescribed norms, and therefore set aside the 2014 notification.

Implications of the Verdict

The CAT decision in favor of Amanat Mann IPS sets a precedent for transparency and fairness in the cadre allocation process for Civil Services officers. It underscores the importance of adhering to the roster system and maintaining balanced representation across all categories.

Legal experts note that the verdict strengthens the rights of officers who have been unjustly deprived of their preferred cadre, ensuring merit-based allocation and accountability in administrative decisions.

About IPS Officer Amanat Mann

Amanat Mann, an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the 2012 batch, is known for her dedication and professional integrity. Residing in Panchkula, she has been vocal about ethical policing, gender equality, and systemic transparency in recruitment and postings.

Her successful appeal before the CAT further reinforces her image as an officer committed to justice and fairness, not just within law enforcement but within the system that governs it.