LUCKNOW, May 27: ``Transfer policy for the year 1996-97 has already been framed by the personnel department and approved by the chief secretary as well as State Cabinet. The policy has nothing to do with caste and religion and nor does it seek to promote nepotism or any pick and choose policy'' claimed Uttar Pradesh Government's counsel before the High Court on Monday.The division bench hearing the state government's appeal against a single-judge order directing it to formulate a policy to transfer officials at all levels, immediately granted a stay.The state Cabinet had indeed approved the transfer policy on April 12 specifying that only 15 per cent officers of the respective cadre will be transferred. However, as on date, at least 50 per cent members of IAS, IPS, PCS and PPS cadres stand reshuffled in the state.The Mayawati Government has reduced its own policy to shreds as caste, more than any other factor, has been the main criteria for transfers on such a large scale.District magistrates of at least 48 out of total 76 districts have been changed. Similarly, superintendents of police of 55 districts have been reshuffled.In stark contrast to the UP government undertaking in the High Court on Monday, barring two districts, in all others officers of scheduled caste, scheduled tribes and backward class were posted as DMs. Special care was also taken to ensure that lower sub-castes among the OBCs should get a preference over their counterparts in higher sub-castes.The chief minister has also announced that 20 per cent of scheduled caste and tribe policemen would be made inspectors in police stations, meaning that one fifth of inspectors' post are also reserved for SCs and STs.Unlike her previous tenure, Mayawati has not reposed faith on Muslim and Yadav officials and restricted herself in offering prized postings to Dalits and selective OBCs.Only a handful of Yadav and Muslim officials could be seen placed at plum postings in transfer lists which have almost become a routine in Uttar Pradesh, having the largest cadre of IAS and PCS officials.Justice Katju in his verdict on a petition filed by Gayatri Devi, a midwife, transferred to Lalganj from Bhadohi, had observed that government servants in the state were being treated like shuttlecocks, to be battered around frequently without any thought being given to the effect this would have on their morale and administration.However, assailing Justice Katju's verdict, the state of UP has pleaded in its special appeal that his strictures were based on ``newspaper reports which were inadmissible in a court of law''.Besides, the stricture had been made by the judge without giving any opportunity to the government to have its say.The operation of Justice Katju's verdict has been ``stayed till further orders.''
