The unique case is of 2011-batch IAS officer P Parthiban from Tamil Nadu and his wife and batchmate, Tamil Nadu cadre IPS officer Nisha, who hails from Delhi. Parthiban belongs to the Union Territories cadre, that includes Delhi.
The couple has sought common cadre citing their marriage, as civil services rules allow it. However, the rules bar any member of the service from working in his or her home state, resulting in the conundrum.
The matter was first discussed by the committee at a meeting last month and it was decided that, as per the policy, neither officer can opt for the spouse's cadre as, in each case, it is their home cadre.
"The officers were requested to convey their choice accordingly. However, they have not conveyed their preference till date," note the minutes of the meeting held last week.
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After detailed deliberations, the committee recommended that a proposal be put up for consideration of ACC to provide, in such cases where either of the officers cannot opt for the cadre of the spouse, a choice to the officers to choose the immediate next cadre opted by the officer in the detailed application form submitted to Union Public Service Commission.
If the proposal is approved, P Parthiban and Nisha Parthiban may be transferred to Gujarat cadre (the more deficit cadre between Gujarat and Uttarakhand, the other preferences of the officers), the minutes of the meeting said.