As many as 11 IAS officers in Rajasthan cadre are awaiting posting orders (APO). The state already has a shortage of 50 officers with 282 officers in service against the sanctioned strength of 332 officers.
The state government may come up with transfer list soon to accommodate these officers, some of whom are on the bench for quite some time.
While Ambrish Kumar, who was serving as Secretary Food and Civil Supplies, has been put on APO after he went on a foreign trip (Germany) without proper approval from the CMO, two officers – Haulianlal Guite (2011) and Avichal Chaturvedi (2012) have been waiting posting after their return from study leave.
Khajan Singh, a 2013 batch IAS officer promoted from state services has been on APO since December 2025 after the dissolution of Tax Board where he was the member. The government is giving him salary without any work for close to eight months. He is scheduled to retire in August next year.
Lalit Goel, a 2019 batch IAS officer, has been on bench since May 2026. He was removed from the post of Secretary UIT following allegations of large-scale irregularities in the allotment of residential plots through a lottery system. Being APO for considerable time period in early phase of career does not go well for a career bureaucrat.
“The government should post Goel as putting him without any posting will further shake his confidence. Historically no IAS officer remains on APO forever whatever the issue may be. His energy should be utilised in the benefit of the state and public,” said R C Jain, a former IAS, who has seen the colours bureaucracy closely.
Apart from that three young IAS officers serving as SDMs in various sub divisions have also been placed on APO. All three officers are from 2022 batch. All three of them have been on the bench since June this year.
Saksham Goel was serving as SDM Jaisalmer when he was suddenly put on APO. Sources say that altercation with local advocates and allegations of high handedness caused his removal. However, senior officers were happy with his performance.
Similarly his batchmates Preetam Kumar and Bhaisara Shubham Ashok were removed from posts of SDM Jodhpur and SDM Gogunda respectively without any clear reason.
“Putting young officers on APO for trivial reasons has a bad impact on their confidence. As a young officers, they should be given opportunities to learn and resurrect,” said Jain.
Another 2022 batch officer Pratibha Dahiya, who has been transferred from Gujarat cadre on marriage with her batchmate Yaksh Chaudhary, has been on APO since March 23. in Gujarat she had served as Assistant Collector in Narmada-Rajpipla and Bhavnagar. Her husband is serving as SDM in Sheo (Barmer).
Aditi Varshney, a 2023-batch IAS officer who has also been transferred Gujarat cadre like Dahiya on marriage ground, is on the bench since June 22, 2026. Her husband Madhav Bhardwaj is presently serving as SDM in Alwar.
Varshney, after training had served as Assistant Collector in Banskantha in Gujarat.
Abhishek Jain, a 2020 batch from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, is also on APO after joining Rajasthan cadre on marriage grounds. He has got married to Aradhana Chauhan, who is a 2024 batch IAS officer. Aradhana is currently under training at LBSNAA.
Jain had earlier served as District Commissioner Hailakandi in Assam, Joint Secretary in CM Secretariat, SDO in Bijni (Assam) and Assistant Commissioner in Bongaigaon in Assam.
