Supreme Court Slams MP Govt, Quashes IAS Review Of IFS Officers As “Contemptuous”
The Supreme Court has struck down Madhya Pradesh’s order allowing IAS officers to assess IFS officers’ performance. The bench called the practice “contemptuous” and ruled it unlawful.
New Delhi (May 21): In a significant decision, the Supreme Court of India has struck down a Madhya Pradesh government order that allowed Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers to review the performance appraisal reports (also known as Annual Confidential Reports or ACRs) of Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers.
The court called the practice followed by the Madhya Pradesh government “contemptuous”.
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The bench, headed by Chief Justice B. R. Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih, was hearing a set of petitions related to the roles of IAS officers in evaluating IFS officers’ work in the state.
The central legal question was whether IAS officers, including District Collectors and other senior officials, had the authority to be the “reporting, reviewing and accepting authority” for officers from the Indian Forest Service.
It came to light during the proceedings that in Madhya Pradesh, IAS officers had been regularly reviewing and writing the ACRs of IFS officers.
This practice had been in place despite clear legal distinctions and separate service rules governing the Indian Administrative Service and Indian Forest Service.
While delivering the judgment, the Supreme Court categorically stated, “It is contemptuous.”
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This strong observation from the bench indicated that the Madhya Pradesh government’s action was not only legally incorrect but also went against established norms and previous court directions.
The judgment is seen as a reaffirmation of the autonomy of All India Services such as the Indian Forest Service, which, while functioning under the administrative structure of the states, are governed by separate rules and procedures laid down by the central government and the All India Services Act.
The decision is expected to impact administrative practices in other states as well, where similar overlaps or confusion regarding the authority of officers from different All India Services may exist.
The court’s ruling makes it clear that an officer from one service cannot unilaterally exercise authority over another without a legal basis.
The bench did not issue any new directions regarding how the performance review of IFS officers should be carried out but made it clear that such reviews must comply strictly with the law and service rules.
This ruling protects the institutional integrity of different All India Services and sends a message to state governments that they must not take administrative shortcuts or bypass the rules set out by the Centre.
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By using the word “contemptuous”, the Supreme Court has underlined the seriousness of violating legal boundaries, especially when it involves inter-service administrative roles.
This judgment could pave the way for reviewing similar policies in other states and bring clarity to the reporting structure within All India Services.
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