The incumbent deputy director Mahantesh Murugod took charge in December, 2012 and it's getting close to four years.
Bengaluru: In the months of April-May, it rains transfers in the city within the state government departments. The most recent was the transfer of BDA commissioner Sham Bhat. Not even efficient officers like BBMP Special Commissioner (Garbage) Subodh Yadav were spared from routine transfers.
Although the state government changes guidelines and transfer rules under the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) routinely, any ‘Group A’ official becomes eligible for transfer after serving two years in a post.
However, the state government, which transferred as many as eight IAS officers in a day, has remained silent over the transfer of the Deputy Director (Cubbon Park), Horticulture Department, even after many RTI activists and other government agencies have sought the transfer of the officer.
The activists alleged that incumbent deputy director Mahantesh Murugod took charge in December, 2012 and it’s getting close to four years, but it seems like the state government is least interested in transferring him.
A top-ranking official in the Horticulture department, who seemed rather surprised at this, said, “The real issue is -- when the BBMP commissioner, BDA commissioner and even some principal secretaries who took charge recently, were transferred, why not the official who took charge nearly four years ago?”
While on some occasions the government may not transfer officials if there are no suitable alternatives, transfers in the Horticulture department haven’t had any dearth of officials, the source maintained.
“Usually, officials serving in the Horticulture department in some city are brought to another and the postings are inter-changed. There has been no lack of options for the state government,” said the official. Another source in the department wondered if ‘caste politics’ had a role in the government’s lack of interest in transferring the official.
“Former Horticulture minister Shamanuru Shivashankarappa belongs to the Lingayat community and so does Mahantesh Murugod. It is an open secret that ministers have soft spots for officials from their community,” the source exclaimed. Now, that Mr S.S Mallikarjun has taken charge as the new minister, has time for change come in the Horticulture department?
Transfer put off?
Sources in the Horticulture department maintain that two weeks ago there was a circular within the government circles that the deputy director (Cubbon Park) and a few other posts in the department must be transferred immediately. However, the circular has been put on hold and the government has decided not to take a call on transfers in the department until July 30.
Charges against Murugod
The Cubbon Park Walkers' Association president S.Umesh has alleged that several irregularities have taken place in the Horticulture department under Mr Murugod's term. "Misappropriation of funds, scams in buying plants, extending support to private builders who have buildings in the Cubbon Park premises…the list of complaints against Mr Murugod is a long one. I have written to the Chief Minister seeking action against him. The DPAR has been told to look into the matter," Mr Umesh said.
