*House Keepers, Sr Asstts, chauffers among 101 re-employed
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Feb 22: Making mockery of its own transfer policy, the National Conference-Congress Coalition Government has transferred more than 70 IAS and over 300 KAS officers before completion of the minimum prescribed tenure during the past three years. The most interesting aspect is that Government has put a question mark on the performance of such a large number of officers despite immense contribution of large number of them in the administration as transfer policy states that a Government employee may be transferred even before the completion of the minimum tenure if he/she is not in the public interest or performance of such an employee is below job requirement.
The Government vide Order No.861-GAD of 2010 dated July 28, 2010 issued a comprehensive policy on transfers/postings of Government employees detailing the mechanism to be followed by all the Government departments while effecting transfers.
The transfer policy besides specifying the minimum tenure of 2 years and maximum tenure of 3 years at a particular post lays down general principles for the guidance of all the Government departments for ensuring its effective implementation.
In the transfer policy, which the Government claims is aimed at ensuring good governance, it has been provided that a Government employee may be transferred even before the completion of the minimum tenure if it is not in the public interest or in the interest of administration to allow the employee to continue on a post for a full tenure; if the performance of employee is found to be below job requirement and if the transfer is sought on health grounds supported by medical certificates issued by duly constituted medical boards.
However, making mockery of its much hyped transfer policy, the Coalition Government has transferred more than 70 IAS and over 300 KAS officers before completion of the minimum prescribed tenure during the past three years.
How could such a large number of IAS and KAS officers come under the purview of “not in the public interest or in the interest of administration” and “health grounds” provisions, which empower the Government to effect transfer before the completion of minimum tenure? and How could Government expect other departments to strictly follow the transfer policy when the General Administration Department, which is considered as backbone of the Government, makes mockery of the policy remain million dollar questions.
Among the IAS officers, who were transferred in blatant violation of transfer policy, include Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, the then Principal Secretary/Financial Commissioner, Finance Department (presently Chief Secretary), Sonali Kumar, the then Financial Commissioner (Coordination), J&K Government New Delhi, Shantmanu, the then Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department (presently Divisional Commissioner Jammu), Bipul Pathak, the then Commissioner Secretary, Animal and Sheep Husbandry (presently Commissioner Secretary, Science and Technology Department), Dr Pawal Kotwal, the then Commissioner Secretary, Transport Department (presently Commissioner Secretary, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control), Tanveer Jehan, the then Secretary, Higher Education Department (presently Commissioner/Secretary PWD), Sheikh Ejaz Iqbal, the then Secretary, ARI and Trainings Department, Sarita Chauhan, the then Chairperson J&K Special Tribunal (presently Secretary, Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department), Gazzanfer Hussain, the then Secretary, Social Welfare Department (presently Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department), Sanjeev Verma, the then Transport Commissioner (presently Secretary, BPE and Floriculture Department), P K Pole, the then Director School Education (presently Special Secretary, Forest Department) etc.
Among the KAS officers, who were transferred by throwing provisions of transfer policy to winds, are Charandeep Singh, the then Deputy Secretary, School Education Department (presently Deputy Chief Electoral Officer in the office of CEO J&K), Puneet Sharma, the then Assistant Settlement Commissioner (presently Deputy Secretary, GAD Vigilance), Bashir Ahmad Bhat, the then Director Rural Sanitation, Farooq Ahmed Khan, the then Special Secretary, Finance Department, Bhumesh Sharma, the then Deputy Director, District Employment and Counselling Centre, Poonch, Asgar Ali, the then Director Land Records Jammu etc.
On the contrary there are certain officers, who have completed the minimum/maximum prescribed tenure of 2/3 years on various posts in State Government.
Meanwhile, in a testimony of Government unnecessarily putting burden on the exchequer, 101 employees were re-employed on contract, consolidated, contractual and academic arrangements basis after their retirement from different departments during the past three years.
Though Government can take refuge under the pretext of “compelling circumstances and administrative exigencies” behind such a large number of re-employments yet there was absolutely no justification behind such an act on the part of the Government except in case of some posts in the Health and Medical Education Department, where shortage of manpower remains a matter of serious concern.
How could Government justify re-employment of Assistant House Keepers, Senior Assistants, chauffers, commentator, Project Operators, Naib Tehsildars, Private Secretaries and Senior Stenographer is a million dollar question.
Even 26 officials some among them retired as BDO, Revenue Officer, Senior Law Officer, ZEO, Private Secretary and Head Master were engaged on contractual basis in the Personal Sections of Ministers, Chairman and Vice-Chairman having the status of Cabinet Minister/Minister of State of the various Boards/Corporations co-terminus with the term of the office of the concerned Ministers.
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