Hyderabad: Even as the proposed inter-cadre deputation of senior IPS officer Stephen Ravindra is being keenly watched by bureaucrats from both Telangana state and Andhra Pradesh, another senior IPS officer of the Telangana cadre, who secured approval from the Union home ministry for her inter cadre transfer to Odisha in October 2018, is yet to be relieved by the Telangana state government.
Unlike in the case of Mr Ravindra where things appear to be moving at lightning speed after AP Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy handpicked him for the job of state Intelligence chief, Additional DGP, welfare, Soumya Mishra has been awaiting her relieving order for more than eight months.
In a letter dated October 3, 2018, the MHA while giving consent for her inter-cadre deputation, conveyed to the Telangana state government to relieve the 1994 batch IPS officer immediately with directions to report to the government of Odisha. The letter, addressed to the Chief Secretary, states that she would be going to Odisha on inter-cadre deputation for an initial period of three years. The copies of the letter were sent to the DGPs of Telangana state and Odisha.
On April 4, 2018, the Telangana state government wrote to the MHA following a request made by Ms Mishra seeking transfer to Odisha on personal grounds.
Sources said that the file was pending with the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). In between, Ms Mishra was promoted to the rank of Additional DGP along with other officers. When contacted, Ms Mishra said: “'The delay could be due to the model code of conduct.” When asked whether she was expecting her relieving orders anytime soon, the senior IPS officer said: “Let us see when it comes.” A senior government functionary, who did not wish to be identified, said: “It is not about the model code of conduct alone. After the state elections were over on December 11 and the government was in place, there was a lot of other important work before the government which could have led to the delay.”
