60th transfer in 30 years for IAS officer who dared Bhupinder Singh Hooda

CHANDIGARH: Nine days after senior IAS officer Pradeep Kasni took on the Hooda government by refusing to issue appointment letters to five commissioners of two statutory bodies by raising various objections, the state government on Tuesday transferred him to a low profile assignment.

According to Kasni, this is the 60th transfer in his career of 30 years in the state. The 1997 batch IAS officer has been transferred at a time when governor Kaptan Singh Solanki has sought a report from the state government on the controversial appointments.

Secretary of Haryana administrative reforms department, Kasni has been transferred as administrator of command area development agency (CADA). He will also look after the work of project director, Haryana Aids Control Society.

Chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on July 27 had sworn in two commissioners of state right to information commission and three commissioners of state right to service commission at his official residence, despite Kasni refusing to issue them appointment letters. In a communication to the government, Kasni had also pointed out overwriting and cuttings on the file pertaining to the appointments.

On Friday, Solanki had sought comments from the state government on the six points mentioned by BJP leaders in a memorandum submitted to him over the appointments. The BJP had urged the governor to set aside the appointments of all five commissioners and also demanded registration of an FIR against then chief secretary S C Choudhary.

"Kasni would have given comments on behalf of the government to the governor on the controversial appointments if he was not transferred. But it appears that the government did not want Kasni to give his comments, so has shunted him out," sources said.

Chief secretary Shankuntala Jakhu was not available for comments despite repeated attempts.

"I don't know why I was transferred. Only government can tell. I am used to transfers as I have seen 60 (transfers) in my service of 30 years. I don't know for how long I would be allowed to stay on this assignment," Kasni said.

Transfer in 30 minutes

Kasni has been transferred 10 months after he took charge as the secretary, administrative reforms department. In 2006, Kasni was transferred just 30 minutes after he took over as secretary, state electricity regulatory commission. He was director of industrial training for just three days in 2012. Kasni had joined the state civil service in 1984.