Govt not happy with Khemka's complaint on 'abrupt' transfers

New Delhi, Oct 18: It seems senior

officer Ashok Khemka's complaining to the media on the issue of his abrupt transfers has not gone down well with the government.

Although neither Khemka, who was transferred soon after he decided to probe the allegations of irregularities in the land deals including those involving Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, nor the government approached the ministry of personnel which looks after the elite service affairs, officials here have criticised Khemka's going to the media with his complaint.

According to official sources, the 47-year-old officer of the 1991 batch violated the norms by approaching the media. They cited the All India Services (Conduct) Rules 1968 and said the Haryana government could initiate disciplinary action against Khemka. Rule 7 of the Act bars an IAS officer from approaching the media and criticising any policy or action of the government, whether the central or state, it was said.

No official, however, agreed to make an official statement on the service rules, particularly when the popular mood in the country is backing Khemka for taking a brave step against the powerful class.

Khemka was transferred from the post of director general (consolidation of holdings and land records) last week after he initiated a probe into the land records of Robert Vadra to a comparatively lesser post. Government sources said Khemka was transferred purely on administrative grounds, but the latter said the move was a violation of the statutory IAS (Fixation of Cadre Strength) Regulations, 2010, which ensures a minimum tenure of two years.

He also said that the government transferred him as an act of punishment for he served as a whistle-blower in several suspicious land transactions.

Khemka was transferred 40 times in his 21-year career and record shows he lasted for merely a few months in most of his posts. In the last 19 years, Khemka held eight posts under various departments for one month or less. Khemka's case created a huge uproar and the media, ex-bureaucrats, common people and even various government panels have slammed the way bureaucrats are sacrificed to make way for their political masters.

OneIndia News