India, Oct. 6 -- The Uttarakhand high court has directed the Union and the state governments to file counter affidavits within three weeks in a public interest litigation, alleging that transfers and postings of All India Services officers in the state have been carried out in violation of Supreme Court directions and cadre rules for over 12 years.

The petition alleges that the government has reduced the filing and scrutiny of property returns by Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers to a "clerical formality" by not adequately exercising its powers under the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, to seek details of their movable and immovable assets.

A bench of Chief...