Khadse orders action against 200 engineers

MUMBAI, JUNE 10: State Irrigation Minister Eknath Khadse has directed his department to initiate stern disciplinary action against 200 en...

MUMBAI, JUNE 10: State Irrigation Minister Eknath Khadse has directed his department to initiate stern disciplinary action against 200 engineers who had approached politicians to secure transfers to postings of their choice.

Elaborating on the breach of discipline, a senior official said that the engineers concerned had moved their applications for transfer through politicians in blatant violation of the civil service rules.

8220;In doing so, the engineers have exerted pressure on the government, particularly the Irrigation Minister. He has, therefore, asked the department to initiate proceedings against them under the provisions of the Maharashtra Civil Service and Discipline Rules,8221; he added.

While show-cause notices have been issued to the engineers, departmental inquiry against more than a dozen engineers is underway for their refusal to report on new postings. 8220;It was found that despite being transferred, they had not reported to the new workplace for more than six months,8221; the officialsaid.

Irrigation and Public Works are two departments where the largest number of engineers are annually transferred as per the guidelines prescribed by the General Administration Department. Twenty per cent of the 13,500 engineers from the rank of section engineer to Chief Engineer in the Irrigation Department alone are shifted every year.

As per the existing policy, an engineer can remain at one place for three years, in one district for five years and in one division for 15 years. As per a computerised statement on the service records of the engineers in the department, it was found that 2,000 out of the 13,500 engineers were due for a transfer.

Official records revealed that at least 1,500 of the 2,000 had moved the department to secure postings of their choice. 8220;Though 1,500 engineers had approached politicians, disciplinary action is being taken against 200 of them. In due course of time, each one will be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of law,8221; the official said.

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He added that asection of the engineers issued show-cause notices had denied any attempt to pressurise the government using political connections. Some engineers replying the notices stated that if any letter from a politician had been submitted to the government, it was done without their the engineers8217; consent.

Meanwhile, confirming that the notices had been issued to the engineers, Khadse said, 8220;My office is flooded with transfer applications. If I were to attend to all of them, it won8217;t be possible for me to devote time to developmental works8221;.