Don’t use ‘Political Influence’ for transfers, Govt warns staff

Drawing flak for affecting more than 2,100 premature transfers during the last 21 months, the ruling PDP-BJP coalition today warned all government employees to refrain from bringing undue political interference or other outside influence on the superior authorities on the matters pertaining to transfers and postings.
The state government has candidly admitted that the transfers and postings of government officials and officers were earlier being affected on the grounds of political interference or outside influence.
“It has been observed that some government employees (officers and officials) of different services get recommendations from different political dignitaries in an attempt to bring influence upon superior authorities to further their interest in respect of matters pertaining to their service under the government,” said an order of the General Administration Department (GAD), headed by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, issued here today.
The order said, “While affecting the transfers, the eligibility and suitability of the employees concerned and the interest of government work are to be given utmost priority. Based on the Cabinet decision on July 27, 2010, a detailed policy on transfers or postings of government employees has already been issued. Some other departments have also notified transfer policies, specific to such departments.”
It added that the recommendations mostly seek transfers and postings of these employees, which cause undue interference in the functioning of the administration and complicate cadre management, besides creating other allied problems.
The government has also drawn attention towards the Rule 17 of the J&K Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1971, that provides, “No government employee shall bring or attempt to bring any political or other outside influence to bear upon any superior authority to further his interest in respect of matter pertaining to his service under the government”.
“It is, therefore, impressed upon all the government employees to take note of the rule position and avoid bringing undue influence on the authorities associated with their cadre management on the matters pertaining to transfers and postings and other allied service matters. Non-compliance in this regard shall be viewed seriously and dealt with strictly in accordance with the rules,” the order said.
In the Budget session, the state government had admitted that more than 2,100 officers and officials, including senior IAS and IPS officers of different departments, were transferred prematurely between April 2015 and December 2016.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while taking a dig at the PDP-BJP government, said at average three officers were transferred every day. “How will we get them to work when we are transferring them prematurely?” he had asked. He had accused Sartaj Madni and Sajad Mufti, both relatives of the CM, for creating a “transfer mess” in south Kashmir.