CAT Upholds Merit: Amanat Mann IPS Reassigned to Punjab Cadre After Landmark Ruling

CAT Upholds Merit: Amanat Mann IPS Reassigned In a powerful affirmation of fairness and accountability in India’s civil services, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has ruled in favor of IPS officer Amanat Mann , directing that she be reassigned to the Punjab cadre —the very state she has long aspired to serve. This decision marks the end of a decade-long administrative delay and sets a strong precedent for how merit, transparency, and justice should guide cadre allocations in the country. The Beginning: A Promising UPSC Journey Amanat Mann cracked the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2012 , securing an All India Rank of 194 . She was the highest-ranking general category IPS candidate from Punjab , and her preferred cadre choices—Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh—reflected her deep-rooted desire to serve her home region. Despite her outstanding rank and qualifications, she was surprisingly allocated to the Uttar Pradesh cadre in 2014. This misallocation raised seriou...