Arbitrary transfer norm despite special board

The CSB comprises three members — Principal Secretary (Home),another principal secretary-rank officer who handles the Home Department in the Chief Minister’s office and the state DGP. It is supposed to take professional decisions regarding transfer and postings,uninfluenced by extraneous considerations.

In the words of an officer,however,“the board is nothing but an eyewash”.

He pointed out how,under the present dispensation,officers had been transferred as many as ten times and it is a rare district police chief who has had a reasonably stable tenure. Explaining the role of the board,the officer said the DGP is supposed to send a proposal regarding transfers and postings of the Home Department. The proposal is then put up before the board.

The proposals for the transfer of officers — who are of IG rank and below — are examined by the board and then approved by the Cabinet Secretary. The Chief Minister gives approval to transfers and postings of officers of ADG rank and above.

Questioning the structure of the CSB,another officer asked: “How can you expect a body that accommodates the ruling party’s favourite officers to take unbiased decisions regarding transfers and postings?” Owing to the presence of these officers in CSB,the secretariat annexe,which houses the CMO and the Home Department,has become more important than the DGP headquarters.

“Gone are the days when DGP was the sole authority in matters of administration. In the name of independent decision-making,you have created a set-up where the Principal Secretary (Home) has virtually emerged as the super DGP,” the officer remarked.

The Director General of Police Karamvir Singh refused to talk about the role of CSB in transfers. “I am new in this office,” he said,“I will be in a position to speak to you on all such topics after a week.”

Another officer,however,pointed out that the Home Department’s original role was policy making,and not running the police administration,which is the responsibility of the DGP.

Questioning the inclusion of principal secretary-rank officers in the CSB along with the DGP,he said the DGP had a higher position,as “the Sixth Pay Commission had recommended equal salary for the DGP and the Chief Secretary.”