Ministers transfer officials on whim

Under the policy,the approval of the Chief Minister is necessary if a minister has to transfer more than 15 per cent of Group A officials in his department. But,on April 10,Raj Kishore Singh transferred 14 of the 19 Group A officials. Principal Secretary Navtej Singh,who posed queries over the transfers,was reportedly snubbed.

The minister even wrote a note for the transfer of the officials — something that had never occurred in the past. Not only this,23 senior horticulture inspectors were posted as In-charge District Horticulture Officers,while two DHOs were put on wait for a posting.

Interestingly,the transfer orders of two Group A officers were issued by Director (Horticulture) Om Narain Singh,when this should have been done by the Principal Secretary. Department officials said several arbitrary transfers and postings have been ordered by the minister.

On Monday,Principal Secretary Navtej Singh was unceremoniously removed for his insistence on following the policy; the minister took his objection as defiance.

The minister claimed the transfers were being done in the interest of the department. “We have a small strength and so the percentage of transfers looks too much,but these were necessary. During the previous regime,certain officials were targeted and now things are being streamlined.”

Under the transfer policy,engineers-in chief can transfer junior engineers to the extent of 15 per cent of their strength. Only when the number of transfers exceeds this limit that they have to obtain the minister’s approval. Also,heads of department are competent to order transfer of Group D officials.

But Minister of State for PWD and Irrigation Surendra Patel has issued an order that transfers of junior engineers and all non-gazetted officials should be made only after his sanction.

Patel’s cabinet minister Shivpal Yadav,however,did not accord much importance to his action.

“I have authorised that he can even transfer assistant engineers (Group A). Not much should be read into this,” he said.

When reminded that it was contrary to the transfer policy norms,Shivpal said: “Every point in the transfer policy will be followed and there will be no violation.”

On his part,Patel said he had only ordered he should be informed about transfers,“so that I am aware’’.