By B S Reporter
Sagar, a 2019 batch IPS officer of West Bengal cadre joined Rajasthan on cadre transfer. Sagar is married to Ranjeeta Sharma, who is also a 2019 batch IPS officer and currently posted as Superintendent of Police at newly announced district – Kotputli-Behror. Sagar has been posted as Superintendent of Police of newly created Sanchore district.
The cadre transfer was not easy for Sagar. It happened after a legal battle with West Bengal government which refused to issue NoC to Sagar for the transfer even after Rajasthan government had sent its consent in April 2022. The West Bengal government said that the state is reeling under shortage of IPS officers. As against sanctioned cadre strength of 387, the state only has 300 officers. The state government won't be able to spare the officer and sought transfer of his wife to West Bengal cadre instead.
Sagar had moved the tribunal for change of cadre from the state to Rajasthan on the ground that his wife is also an IPS officer of the Rajasthan cadre and that similarly placed couples were allowed a change of cadre.
In an order passed in February this year, the tribunal's Principal Bench in New Delhi directed the state to grant an NOC to him within four weeks, failing which the NOC shall be deemed to have been issued.
The West Bengal government had then approached the Delhi High Court seeking quashing of the tribunal's order. A division bench of the high court had passed an order on March 15 this year dismissing the state's plea, saying the tribunal's order needed no interference.
The West Bengal government then approached the apex court, which also dismissed the plea and directed the state government to ass reliving order within 10 days from 6th July 2023, failing which it will be deemed as consent.
Sagar's wife Ranjeeta happens to be the first Indian woman officer in the history of IPS to win the IPS Association Sword of Honor which is based on outdoor training. She is a post-graduate from the Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi and worked in the PR sector for more than nine years before joining the police force.
The course of legal action
Sagar and Ranjeeta got married in November 2021. In view of the marriage, the officer of the West Bengal cadre became eligible to make a request for change of his cadre to Rajasthan as per November 8, 2004 office memorandum of the Government of India regarding change of cadre.
He made a representation in that regard on January 4, 2022 and it was duly forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs, which in turn sent a letter in March 2022 to the Government of West Bengal for views and comments on his request to take further action. Similarly, a letter was also sent to the Rajasthan government, which in turn conveyed its consent through an April 11, 2022 letter. However, West Bengal government didn't respond even after seven months to which the IPS officer moved the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) at New Delhi. The CAT found that Sagar deserved to get a NoC from West Bengal government for the inter cadre transfer to Rajasthan. The tribunal directed to take immediate action for cadre transfer of the applicant from West Bengal Cadre to Rajasthan Cadre by passing a necessary order in this regard within four weeks thereafter
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