JOIN USFlip, flop, flip is Govt transfer policy
Over the last fortnight, the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, which is under the Chief Minister, transferred 36 IAS officers. Eight of the transfers were cancelled.
Pankaj Kumar Pande, Deputy Commissioner of Shimoga was transferred as joint secretary to Chief Minister on October 21. By another order issued a week later, on October 28, He was transferred as managing director of HESCOM at Hubli. Four days later, on November 2, yet another order was issued, by which he was sent back to Shimoga.
Similar is the case with Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner C V Ponnuraj, Dharwad ZP CEO C Shikha, KPSC secretary V B Patil, Shimoga ZP CEO P Shivashankar, Ramanagara Deputy Commissioner Chandrashekharaiah, Joint Commissioner of Commercial Taxes Ajay Nagabhushan, Additional Commissioner of Commercial Taxes M E Shivalingamurthy and Agriculture Marketing Director P Ramachandra.
Ponnuraj had handed over charge to Subodh Yadav and took the charge as Shimoga Deputy Commissioner before the order was cancelled. And, now he is without a posting.
Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister Krishna J Palemar said he wanted Ponnuraj continue in his district. Because a new officer required at least six months time to get acclimatised to the new post and understand the issues, specific to the district. “I wanted Ponnuraj continue in Dakshina Kannada. But the Chief Minister wanted him for Shimoga. I agreed. But his transfer is cancelled,” he said.
Palemar said Deputy Commissioners played a major role in implementing development works. A new officer required at least six months to understand issues concerned to the district and development works are affected.
According to an officer, Yeddyurappa directly handles transfer of IAS officers with the assistance of the Chief Secretary and officers in his secretariat. The recent reshuffle of posts in haste indicate mercurial changes in Chief Minister’s decisions.
An IAS officer said frequent changes in posts affected administration. At times of floods, spread of epidemic diseases, where concerted efforts of the administration is essential, the frequent changes in positions come as bane for the public. Besides, passage of files, which demand immediate attention, might also get delayed, he pointed out.
Not relieved
Three Deputy Commissioners, all IAS, who were transferred on October 20 are yet to remit their offices. They are - B Shivappa (Bellary), Aditya Amla Biswas (Chitradurga) and N V Prasad (Gadag).
Transfer of the Deputy Commissioners of Gadag and Bellary has been a crucial move considering the row created following their transfers a year ago. Bellary ministers G Janardhana Reddy and B Sriramulu had created a political crisis over the transfers.
It is said that this time around, the Chief Minister transferred them with the consent of the Reddys. But Shivappa is making efforts to stay put in Bellary till he attains retirement, due in six months. He is expecting cancellation of his posting in a couple of days. If that happens, he will may retire from the service in that district.
Transfers
* Oct 20: 10 IAS officers.
* Oct 21: 15 IAS officers.
* Oct 28: 11 IAS reshuffled.
* Nov 2: Cancelled transfer of five.