Nearly 500 officers belonging to the Uttar Pradesh cadre of the elite Indian Administrative Service appear to be in a fix over declaration of their assets.

Not more than four officers have come forward to furnish details of their assets so far even though the prescribed deadline by the central government's Department of Personnel and Training comes to an end on April 20.

As per a DoPT circular, all IAS officers across the country were required to furnish details of the immovable assets held by them and their immediate family latest by April 20.

In an unprecedented move, the Union government has also decided to put such details in the public domain. Even though several officers cited that as the reason behind their reluctance to disclose their assets, it is widely perceived that it was the huge ill-gotten

wealth amassed by many that was leading them to avoid such a declaration.

"I do not think anybody can avoid declaration of his assets for very long, as the Union government was also planning to hold back promotions of IAS officers who do not adhere to the new rule," a senior IAS officer said in Lucknow.

He said, "While the All India Service Rules (1968) have always contained the provision for annual declaration of assets by officers belonging to all Group 'A' services, including the IAS, there was no restriction on promotions in case of default by any officer. With effect from this year, however, the DoPT had decided not to promote officers beyond the joint secretary level if they failt o submit their annual returns of immovable property."