NEW DELHI (16.05.2026): In a stern administrative action, the Union Government has dismissed Padma Jaiswal (IAS: 2003: AGMUT) from the service following presidential approval. The dismissal follows a protracted inquiry into gross financial irregularities, including a treasury scam, diversion of development funds, and falsification of records during her tenure as Deputy Commissioner of West Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh, between 2007 and 2008.
Echoes of Past Actions:
Jaiswal's exit is the second high-profile case which is on the ground of corruption after the exit of another woman IAS officer from the AGMUT cadre in recent years on the ground of misuse of power, drawing some parallels to the 2023 compulsory retirement of Rinku Dhugga (IAS: 1994) under Fundamental Rule 56(j). While Dhugga’s career was cut short following the 2022 Thyagaraj Stadium controversy, Jaiswal’s ouster stems from severe long-standing corruption charges in a strategic border district.
Bureaucratic Unease:
The severity of the penalty has triggered intense debate within civil service circles. The "Unequal Yardstick" Concern: A section of insiders express unease, pointing out that several officers facing similar or even graver integrity probes continue to navigate the system smoothly or retire with full benefits.
Proportionality Debate:
While some other bureaucrats view Jaiswal’s dismissal as a hasty, high-handed measure where a major departmental penalty might have sufficed, others acknowledge the Centre’s mandate to enforce zero-tolerance policies on fiscal impropriety.
By executing the harshest penalty under the service rules, the Ministry of Home Affairs has signalled an uncompromising stance on financial probity, particularly within union territory administrations.
While giving emotional remarks, opinions and reactions over unpleasant ousters of two AGMUT cadre women IAS officers, one also understands well that the government has the mandate, power and compulsion of taking such actions.
