Haryana IAS officer takes a ‘walk’

Khemka was appointed OSD (Rules) after he took on CM Om Prakash Chautala by refusing to implement the transfer slips issued by the CMO. He even went to the extent of pinning the notice banning mid-term transfers on the directorate notice board. Incensed, the government transferred him immediately after the Fatehabad rally.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that misconduct with the general public was mentioned as the ground for his quick transfer. One of the ministers had said at Yamunanagar that he was removed because he misbehaved with the public. ‘‘His past record is worth a scan. He has a penchant for locking horns with his immediate seniors some of whom have recorded his actions. He has average and even negative ACRs in his service record. And now, he is trying to blow the issue out of proportion,’’ said a senior officer.

Back in the department, his endeavour to bring government schools on a par with private schools had stemmed from a recent study conducted by the Centre, establishing that Haryana has the maximum per capita expenditure on education. He attributed this to the swelling number of private schools, which has shot up to 3,500.

Though his post of OSD (Rules) is considered insignificant, Khemka says he’s determined to work here as well. He has asked the government for one steno and a peon to carry out his work.

It was on September 21, four days after taking over the helm of the Education Department that Khemka fired his first salvo at the CM when he sought his guidance on a court case pertaining to the transfer of Sohan Lal versus the state of Haryana. Pointing out the anomaly in the case, Khemka pushed the ball into the CM’s court by seeking his opinion. He wrote: ‘‘The transfer order was issued by the office in compliance with the CM’s order which was in contravention of our policy. There are other cases of transfer which are in contravention of the policy … the CM may kindly see and guide the department…’’ This, followed by a ban on transfers, effectively sealed his fate.

Khemka also trashed the Rs 900-crore budget of the department, and urged the state to provide him only Rs 19 crore to streamline education.