The move is rare, as the last time an IPS officer (Maharashtra cadre) was 'compulsory retired' was nearly 10 to 15 years ago. The government has compulsorily retired UT cadre IPS officer Mayank Sheel Chouhan (IPS:1998) on the basis of a performance review conducted at the end of 15 years of service under the All-India service rules. The Union Home Ministry approved the recommendation of the respective cadre state to compulsorily retire him from service "in public interest". Reportedly, the officer was found to have put in sub­-optimal performance by the concerned state cadre on the basis of ACRs, service records and assessment of his seniors. Similarly, Raj Kumar Dewangana (IPS:1992), a Chhattisgarh cadre officer, too was given compulsory retirement on completion of 25 years of service on the same ground this month. Technically, 'Compulsory Retirement" is merely an action taken to remove officers seen as deadwood by their respective cadres and the Centre for not being serious in discharge of their duties. It is not considered as a punishment at all and they get all post-­retirement benefits. It is a rare and harsh message to civil servants who fail to perform well in their careers.