CAT dismisses Rohini's plea, upholds her transfer

The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), on Tuesday, dismissed the petition filed by Hassan Deputy Commissioner Rohini Sindhuri Dasari, challenging her transfer and upheld the transfer order issued by the government.

The CAT had earlier passed an order, directing Rohini to give a representation to the chief secretary against her transfer. Rohini then challenged the order before the high court, which asked the tribunal to consider her plea afresh.

Additional Advocate General A S Ponnanna contended on behalf of the government that the transfer order was as per norms. However, the petitioner's counsel Subramanya Jois said her transfer was "intentional".

In the last hearing, Jois had submitted before the tribunal that Rohini had cracked down on the mining mafia, which had enraged the local politicians who put pressure on the chief minister to transfer Rohini from Hassan district.

The government then contended that Rohini's transfer order was passed after discussions between the chief minister and the chief secretary. It said there was no rule mandating that an IAS officer should be allowed to serve in the same place for two years. Rohini is likely to move the HC, challenging the CAT order.