Letter from Sonia prompted Govt to change IAS service rules?

At the same time, this particular instance has highlighted the need to assess whether there are adequate safeguards in place to protect executive functionaries working beyond the average call of duty to uphold rule of law,” Gandhi had written on August 2.

Gandhi had said implementation machinery must feel that the conditions are conducive to the delivery of public services without fear or favour.

If changes in rules are made applicable, they will also have bearing on two other All India Services - Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS) - besides IAS.  The over 4,700-member IAS Officers' Association had also suggested changes in rules including prior sanction of the Centre before any officer of the service is suspended by a state government among others.

“Revisit all rules regarding All India Services, in particular ‘All India Services (Disciplinary and Appeals Rules, 1969, wherein a provision for seeking prior approval of central government should be made before suspending any IAS officer working under control of state governments,” the association's secretary Sanjay R Bhoosreddy had told PTI.  

He had recommended provision for serving of a “mandatory show cause notice” to an officer seeking his or her explanation within a specified time period before suspension.  “Only after perusal of that particular IAS officer's reply to the show cause notice, suspension should be decided,” he had suggested.