Go to SC if you want to change transfer policy: Centre to UP, Haryana

NEW DELHI: UP and Haryana have complained to the Centre that a new provision that would ask for an officer’s views before transferring him prematurely was effecting bureaucratic reshuffle in the states. The two states are known for quick-fire transfers of bureaucrats. UP had transferred IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, after a complaint against her for removing encroachments. Haryana has transferred whistleblower IAS officer Ashok Khemka repeatedly.

The change in transfer policy was raised by the representatives of both states at a meeting chaired by MoS for personnel, Jitendra Singh, on Monday. Leena Nandan, the resident commissioner of UP, told Singh response from officers took a long time. No response was received in some cases, she said. These meant transfers were not taking place. Haryana also made a similar complaint, ET has learnt.

The Centre, however, refused to intervene. Singh said the provision was brought as per a Supreme Court direction in October 2013 to ensure fixed tenure for babus. Singh also reminded the states that they had filed affidavits before SC that they would follow a fixed-tenure policy and hence would have to approach the court if they desired a change in policy.

Following the SC ruling, the Centre had this January brought new rules saying All-India Service officers will get a two-year-fixed tenure in a post and states will have to set up a civil service board to recommend all appointments and premature transfers. The new rules stipulated that the board will obtain comments or views of the officer proposed to be transferred after the state sends it a report with a “detailed justification” on why it wants to undertake the premature transfer.