Recently an IRS Customs & Central Excise cadre officer was about to be appointed DDG in the Narcotics Control Bureau, but he was found ineligible due to the incongruity that prevails within the system. Indianmandarins learnt that the name of Rajesh Nandan Srivastava (currently ADG NACEN), belonging to IRS C&CE, was finalised for NCB DDG and was about to be cleared, but in the final stage of his appointment, an objection was raised that he was not empanelled as JS despite eligibility. In fact, empanelment of hundreds of IRS C&CE officers (belonging to 1987, 88, 89, 90 batches and beyond) is stuck due legal hurdles raised by Custom Appraisers, a feeder cadre of Central Board of Customs and Central Excise. All they have attained SAG and they are drawing salaries in SAG grade but due to court's direction it has been SAG ad-hoc. Ironically, the case has to do between Custom Appraisers (DR & Promotee officers) and has nothing to do with IRS (C&CE) officers (DR) who fulfill all criterion for JS but yet to be empanelled formally due to court orders. Initially the authorities decided to appoint Srivastava as DDG, NCB because they found him eligible for the post but later it was put on hold he was JS (ad-hoc) but not impaneled as JS. Currently, NCB is witnessing an acute shortage of officers in the DDG rank. Four out of its five - that is 80% - sanctioned posts of DDG are vacant.