CAT Orders MHA to Assign Punjab Cadre to IPS Officer Amanat Mann

In a significant administrative decision, the Chandigarh bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has directed the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), and the Department of Personnel to allot Punjab cadre to IPS officer Amanat Mann, overturning her earlier allocation to Uttar Pradesh.

The tribunal stated, “The applicant is entitled to be allotted the Punjab cadre, and the notification dated May 7, 2014, concerning the UP cadre allocation is hereby set aside.”

IPS officer Amanat Mann granted Punjab cadre by CAT ruling.

Amanat Mann’s Civil Services Journey

Amanat Mann, currently residing in Panchkula, had listed Punjab, Haryana, and UT as her preferred cadres while appearing for the Indian Civil Services examination in 2012. Despite securing 194th rank nationally and emerging as the top IPS candidate from Punjab, she was unexpectedly assigned to Uttar Pradesh.

She began her training at the Police Academy, Hyderabad, on November 20, 2013. Feeling aggrieved by the allocation, Mann challenged the decision at CAT, citing merit-based discrepancies in the cadre assignment process.

Legal Proceedings and Merit-Based Claim

The case highlighted flaws in the roster system used for Punjab cadre IPS vacancies. The Centre had recommended five vacancies and implemented a roster to ensure fair representation across categories, including OBC and SC candidates.

Mann argued that the roster was misapplied: while two OBC vacancies were correctly allotted, the second was mistakenly assigned to an SC candidate, denying her rightful position. Being the highest-ranked candidate in the general category from Punjab, she maintained that the allocation violated merit principles.

CAT ruled in her favor, stressing that IPS cadre allocation must be transparent, fair, and respect merit and category representation.

Importance of the Verdict

The tribunal’s order not only secures Amanat Mann’s preferred Punjab cadre but also reinforces accountability and fairness in civil services postings. It sets a precedent for other candidates who may challenge administrative errors in IPS cadre allotment.

This decision underscores the importance of a merit-based and transparent system in India’s civil services, ensuring deserving officers are not sidelined due to administrative oversight.