CAT Orders Punjab Cadre for IPS Officer Amanat Mann, Overturns UP Allocation

In a major decision supporting merit and fairness in civil service postings, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Chandigarh bench, has ruled in favor of IPS officer Amanat Mann, directing the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), UPSC, and Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to allocate her the Punjab cadre. This verdict cancels the earlier May 7, 2014 notification that had wrongly assigned her to the Uttar Pradesh cadre.

Background: Cadre Allocation Dispute

Amanat Mann, a native of Punjab and resident of Panchkula, secured an impressive 194th rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2012. She was also the highest-ranking IPS candidate from Punjab in the general category. In her application, she had clearly listed Punjab, Haryana, and UT as her top cadre preferences.

Despite this, she was allotted the Uttar Pradesh cadre, a move she challenged after discovering the irregularities during her training at the Police Academy in Hyderabad in 2013.

Key Issue: Flawed Use of Reservation Roster

According to the CAT ruling, the cadre allocation process was not aligned with proper reservation procedures. The tribunal noted that the reservation roster system, which is meant to ensure fair representation and prevent consecutive posts being assigned to the same reserved category, was misapplied.

Out of the four Punjab cadre IPS posts available that year, two were wrongly allotted to OBC candidates, and the third to an SC candidate. This left no post for the general category, despite Amanat Mann being entitled to one as the top-ranking general category candidate from Punjab.

Tribunal's Verdict: Justice After a Decade

The tribunal found the 2014 cadre allocation legally incorrect and directed that Amanat Mann be immediately allotted to the Punjab cadre. It emphasized that the reservation policy must not override merit or lead to unfair exclusion of deserving candidates.

Why This Ruling Matters

This case is a landmark in UPSC cadre allocation disputes. It highlights the importance of:

• Merit-based selections

• Proper implementation of reservation policies

• Transparency in civil service processes

The decision also encourages other aspirants who may have faced similar bureaucratic errors to seek redressal.

What It Means for Amanat Mann

With this ruling, IPS Amanat Mann will finally serve in the Punjab cadre, the state she chose to dedicate her service to. Her decade-long fight reflects her commitment to justice, fairness, and procedural integrity.

Conclusion

The CAT’s order in favor of Amanat Mann is a strong reminder that government institutions must uphold fairness and meritocracy in all allocation processes. By correcting a significant error, the tribunal has reinforced the core values of transparency, accountability, and justice in India’s civil service system.