Transfers: Gogoi pulls officers out of ministers’ hold

‘‘Frequent transfer and posting not only leads to avoidable expenditure on TA/DA etc, but also demoralises government officials,’’ the notification issued by the personnel department said. This, incidentally, is not the first time the Assam government has come out with such a ‘‘policy’’. A similar order was passed in September 1992 when the Congress regime headed by Hiteshwar Saikia was in power.

‘‘Non-compliance of transfer orders by government employees will invite disciplinary action against them. Also, non-release of officers under orders of transfers will also invite disciplinary action against the respective controlling authorities,’’ another order issued by the personnel department said.

The government has also designated December and January as months constituting the ‘‘transfer season’’ empowering departments to effect transfers of officials completing three years only during those two months. Gogoi’s move to spruce up the administration and end the ‘‘transfer business’’, allegedly run by a section of ministers, has however left several of his colleagues unhappy.

Though no one is willing to come on record, many have complained they have been reduced to ‘‘rubber stamps’’.