2005-batch IAS officers still await promotion

IAS officers of the 2005 batch, belonging to Gujarat cadre, are awaiting promotion. As per the service rules, they became eligible in September to get senior time scale and promotions from assistant collector level to deputy secretary or district development officer-level positions.

After four years of experience, IAS officers are considered eligible for senior time scale.  
The promotions are particularly important as the hike in salaries is steepest in case of elevation from junior time scale to senior time scale and it includes the band pay as well. 
There are six officers in the 2005 batch. Banchha Nidhi Pani is assistant collector (AC) of Anjar-Kutch, Harsad Patel is AC of Ankleshwar-Bharuch, Ponugumatla Bharathi is AC  of Dabhoi, Ranjeeth Kumar J AC of Modasa, Vikrant Pandey AC of Palitana, and Shalini Agrawal is under secretary, GAD.

"Promotions are always low on the state government's priority list. So we are in the queue and waiting," one of the officers told DNA. "Even the 2007 batch should have been promoted a few months back - from supernumerary assistant collector posts — but that was also delayed and the order came only recently," the officer added.

In addition, promotions at senior level, like to the posts of secretary and principal secretary, are also due for quite some time. The list is expected soon, an officer from the general administrative department said.