Abused officials headed north?

The recent incident in which IAS officer Harsh Gupta was ‘abused’ by primary and secondary education minister Kimmane Rathnakar in the corridors of Vidhana Soudha has angered the IAS fraternity.

The government did nothing when Rashmi Mahesh another IAS officer was manhandled by a group of people in the premises of Administrative Training Institute in Mysuru.

Her ‘sin' was that she exposed the alleged irregularities in the ATI. Instead of protecting the officer, the government transferred her to an insignificant post.

"We had heard about such incidents in north Indian states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar but it’s now happening in Karnataka, once the most sought after state for IAS probationers", remarked a senior IAS officer.

Sanjeev Kumar, who was the first to be publicly insulted by none other than Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, has reportedly gone on a central deputation. Mr N. Sivasailam who was removed from Namma Metro, too has gone on central deputation. Now Mr Gupta has sought central deputation.

Transfers without citing reasons, blaming bureaucrats for everything, snubbing them in policy matters and abusing them in public seems to have become the order of the day in Karnataka, said sources.

Honest IAS officers were shuffled like a pack of cards without allowing them to complete the mandatory two years of service at one place.

An IAS officer of the 1999 batch, who got an independent posting in 2003, had been transferred 21 times in the last 12 years. His biggest 'mistake' was exposing irregularities in the department where he was posted, and trying to improve the system.

Those who were ready to take on the netas continue their fight against injustice despite repeated transfers but others, in the interest of their families, either keep quiet or toe the line set by politicians setting aside their principles, said an officer, on the condition of anonymity.

The officer said so far, the state government has not bothered to set up the Civil Services Board (CSB) for transfer of IAS officers. The Supreme Court had directed all states to constitute the CSB following complaints of premature transfers of IAS officers.

Once the board comes into being, the government had to give reasons for transfer of any officer before the mandatory two years based on which the aggrieved officer can move Central Administrative Tribunal.

In the absence of the board, it has become easy for the government to transfer IAS officers as per their whims and fancies. "We support dismissal of corrupt IAS officers but don't punish officers for being honest".

Meanwhile, a delegation of Karnataka IAS Officers Association met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and brought to his notice the reported abuse of Harsh Gupta, managing director, Mysore Paper Mills by Minister Kimmane Ratnakar publicly.

According to sources, the CM, who gave them a patient hearing, promised to instruct the minister concerned not to do such things in future.