Govt staff union wants CM to stop transfers

 The Karnataka State Government Employees’ Association has decided to request Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to stop effecting transfers as the twice-extended transfer cut-off date has ended.

Association President L Bhairappa on Wednesday said transfer of employees in the middle of the year will affect the education of their children. The deadline set for completing the transfers by various departments was June 3, which was later extended by two months.

But, so far, the transfers have not been concluded for the current year. Hence, Siddaramaiah would be requested to put an end to it, keeping in mind the inconvenience it is causing to the employees’ families, he added. 

According to sources, the chief minister is under pressure from various quarters, including his ministerial colleagues and legislators, to effect transfer of employees of their choice. Siddaramaiah himself has been monitoring the transfer of  IAS/IPS officers. He has the authority to transfers top bureaucrats anytime as it doesn’t fall under general transfers.

Six per cent cap

The chief minister had directed all the departments not to transfer more than six per cent of the total employees. However, the rule has not been strictly adhered to by all departments.

While 1,020 engineers of various cadre have been transferred in the Public Works Department, about 190 first and second division assistants have been transferred.

The Revenue department has seen the maximum number of transfers, about 500 surveyors, while 300 employees of the Animal Husbandry department have found new places to work; 200 lecturers with the Directorate of Collegiate Education and 250 with Technical Education department have been transferred.

Transfers are yet to be effected in the Transport department. The police and Education departments have separate establishments to conduct transfers.