IAS, other services bicker in public over job parity

New Delhi: A war of words is going on in social media between officers of most sought-after Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and those belonging to other central government services like IRS over the issue of pay parity and career progression.

A group of about 200 IAS officers have written to Department of Personnel and Training, cadre controlling authority for their service, requesting it to stonewall any move that seeks to bring down the edge given to them over other services due to various reasons.

Many comments are pouring on social networking sites like Facebook and micro-blogging portal Twitter by various officers serving across the country on the issue.

Officers belonging to Indian Revenue Service (IRS), Railways and other central government services have sought pay parity and career benefits enjoyed by those in IAS, a move being objected to by those in the latter service.

"There is a lot of frustration and resentment among the young officers. They have taken a conscious decision of joining IAS after viewing their career options."

"Some of them have left very good private sector jobs abroad and joined the civil service. Most of them were selected in other services but they chose to sit in exam again to become an IAS officer. The merit of these boys should not be ignored," said Sanjay Bhoosreddy, Secretary of central IAS officers' association here.

He said many IAS officers have written to the association over the matter. "We will take a considered view, whatever is best for the country and for the service, on these representations," Bhoosreddy said.

The bitter fight has been getting support from politicians also. "Apartheid in payscales of AllIndiaCivilServices mustgo,for allto feel inclusive #parity4allservices #IASNoUsainBolt," tweeted Kiran Bedi, retired IPS officer and a BJP leader.

"Unaddressed apartheid inpayparity+service matters in AllIndiaCivilServices has hurt-performance. V need shared missionary zeal in AllIndiaCivilServices, not ongoing pay fissures," she said in different tweets.