Court Rules Government Has Full Authority Over Cadre Assignments; Finds No Credible Threat Evidence
In a significant ruling, the Jabalpur Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has dismissed the plea of IAS officer ML Meena (2001 batch), who sought permanent transfer from his parent cadre—Manipur–Tripura—citing threats to his personal safety.
Meena’s Petition: Allegations of Life Threat
Meena, who has been absent from duty since 2021, had approached the court claiming a longstanding threat to his life stemming from an alleged 2006 assault by two MLAs in Manipur. He urged for reassignment to another state on grounds of personal security.
Court’s Observations: No Substantial Proof
The division bench, comprising Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice D.K. Paliwal, found no supporting evidence to justify Meena’s request. Key findings include:
The 2020 Intelligence Bureau report contains no mention of threats to Meena.
No FIR, police station record, or official case details were submitted to validate the 2006 assault claim.
Meena had previously been transferred to Madhya Pradesh but is now required to return to his original cadre in Manipur.
Continued absence from duty since 2021 further weakened his position.
High Court Affirms Government’s Discretion
In its judgment, the court emphasized that the government has sole discretion in assigning cadre postings:
“The government is free to decide where the officer has to work.”
The bench also raised concerns over the authenticity of documents submitted in relation to the alleged incident, stating the petition lacked critical legal and factual integrity.
No Relief Granted
With the rejection of his petition, IAS ML Meena must now report to Manipur–Tripura, reaffirming that transfer requests based on unsubstantiated safety claims do not override established administrative frameworks.
