HC Grants Interim Relief To IPS Abhishek Mohanty

The Telangana High Court today granted interim relief to IPS officer Abhishek Mohanty, allowing him to continue his duties in Telangana until the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) concludes its hearing on his transfer case.

The court issued orders staying his transfer to Andhra Pradesh as directed by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

The DoPT had ordered the transfer of three IPS officers including Mohanty from Telangana to Andhra Pradesh. In response, Mohanty challenged the transfer by approaching the CAT, seeking a re-examination of his case based on domicile grounds and requesting a suspension of the MHA order until the tribunal adjudicated his plea.

However, the CAT had declined to grant interim relief, prompting the IPS to escalate the matter to the Telangana High Court.

A division bench comprising Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili and Justice E Tirumala Devi reviewed Mohanty's plea. The bench observed that Mohanty had served in Andhra Pradesh before moving to Telangana and was now being asked to return to Andhra Pradesh, and likened the situation to playing musical chairs. The court also questioned the urgency of the transfer, especially since Mohanty's plea was still under adjudication.

The court asked the Union Home Ministry to clarify whether it had considered the Telangana government's 2022 order which reinstated Mohanty to the Telangana cadre following directives from the CAT and the High Court, and extended Mohanty's joining date in Andhra Pradesh from Thursday to Monday as it awaited a response from the ministry on the matter.