IAS and IPS officials are on a collision course in Uttar Pradesh. The confrontation has been triggered by chief minister Mayawati's tendency to post police officers in posts meant exclusively for the IAS cadre.

The UP IAS Association has written a strong letter to the department of personnel and training (DoPT) complaining of the impropriety of such postings. The association has also apprised the UP chief secretary of the resentment in the state IAS cadre. However, the conflict does not have its roots in these postings alone.

Sources say it is fuelled by apprehensions in the state bureaucracy that Mayawati might implement the commissionerate system in UP, which would empower the IPS cadre and take away some important powers now with IAS officials.

The IPS Association, too, is gearing up to give a befitting reply. "Why has the IAS Association suddenly woken up to this issue? The postings (which the IAS association has objected to) were made when Mayawati became chief minister 21 months ago," said an office-bearer of the IPS Association not wanting to be identified. He said these postings were crucial, as IAS officials did not have the grooming and training to deal with certain situations, especially those relating to crime control, and law and order.

The two posts the IAS Association has taken exception to are secretary to the CM and secretary, home department.

In its letter, the IAS Association pointed out that both these posts were reserved for the IAS cadre as per Central rules.

Those in the know of things point out that though the two cadres have never been on the best of terms in UP, the latest salvo from the IAS Association came after Mayawati overhauled the UP police set-up earlier this month. In nine important districts, including Lucknow, the post of SSP (senior superintendent of police) was upgraded to DIG rank, tilting the balance of administrative power in favour of the DIG. The IAS cadre sees this as a harbinger of the commissionerate system where IAS officials would have no say in crime, law and order.

In her last tenure as CM, Mayawati had posted an IPS official, Kashmir Singh, as her secretary. He had to be removed after an extended battle between the two premium cadres. An unseemly replay seems to be in the offing.

Deepak Gidwani/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication