OPEN HOUSE: Do you think transfers/postings of officers after change at the helm of affairs are justified?

After change at the helm of affairs in the state, there have been a lot of transfers/postings of police commissioners/IAS officers. Changes are important element of the life and hence changes are also required in the Public sector. Government officials are appointed to serve society and to maintain peace in the country, so they are required to move from one place to another to maintain the harmony. Transfers/ postings in the jobs of government officials may have positive and negative effects and it varies from one person to another. If we look at the motive behind the transfers/postings of jobs then it benefits both society and officials. Transfer of jobs in different localities reduces monotony and boredom. It also helps in improving their skill and knowledge and motivates them to work harder for the welfare of the society. It helps them to develop both personally and professionally. Somehow, it may have some consequences such as it reduces morale and lead breakdowns in working relationships. It also creates difficulty in living far from family and maintaining personal relations. It may take some time for officers to study about the problems of particular areas and to work on those problems to reduce the tension in the areas. In conclusion, transfers are a requirement to maintain tranquility and to reduce the conflicts.

SAM

Don’t take govt officials for a ride

The Assembly elections are to be held in February 2022 in Punjab. New CM was appointed in the state hardly four months before the elections. The transfers and postings of IAS/IPS/PCS officers is the prerogative of the Chief Minister as he can change any officer at any time as desired by him for the smooth functioning of the administration. But transfers and postings within a short span sometimes raises questions behind such move. Every officer is fit for his working and no doubt he is always sincere towards his commitments to carry out public interest works in the interests of the masses. Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi should have refrained from carrying out transfers and postings. But in politics everything is fair because ever administrator wants to accommodate those officers to whom he trusts the most and can work to his vision and ideology to perform better than expectations performance for the masses.

Rajat Kumar Mohindru

A bane of democratic polity, must be checked

Government officials change with the change in government. It happens in all states, even in all countries. Though it might affect the functioning of the government, the politicians are least bothered about that. Every new minister wants his own loyal police officers and civil service officers to be posted in his department and in his district. Even the DGP is appointed as per his loyalty rather than seniority. The more senior officers either resign or go on leave. This is the bane of democratic polity. Changes like these definitely affect the functionality of the different departments and also development. The incoming ministers and politicians should not make unnecessary changes in their respective fields. Unfortunately, even the lower rung politicians also want changes in their areas as per their whims. This affects the governance and also discomfort to the public at large. Tainted DGP, AG and even some ministers have been inducted into the government even when the people have protested against their appointments.

Dr JS Wadhwa

Tenure of officials should be fixed

IAS/IPS officers are public servants and meant to serve the people. But political class has become so powerful and bureaucrats are pawns in their hands. It adversely affects their functioning since they wait and watch the new bosses. It is the public which suffers. These officers are also responsible for poor governance owing to their personal interest. Never had a bureaucrat sought court intervention when removed abruptly. All are interested in their own benefit and welfare forgetting command man’s problems. I would like to give one example of driving license office. The functioning of the office was horrible. In the absence of any proper sitting arrangement senior citizens have to stand in queue for hours, no sitting place, no separate entry ladies and senior citizens. Staff arrogant, only one counter for a large number of people.lt seems no responsible ever visited the place. Police reforms at the SC directions should be implemented. Tenure of the official should be fixed and no premature posting without convincing reasons.

GS Bhullar

give autonomy to public servants

The working of bureaucrats and the police is expected to be performed without any undue political pressure or allurement of post-retirement benefits. But reality is contrary to what is commonly presumed, almost every time with a shift in political power axis, blue-eyed boys are picked up for coveted posts, so that they can set their tuning with political masters, as and when wished by the latter. Minimum tenure of bureaucrats and police officers up to certain level posts should be fixed irrespective of political shifts, which is also suggested by various committees working on administrative reforms in police for smoother functioning.

Nishant Suman

Political involvement should be reduced

Political scenario in the present time is suggestive of the fact that the administrative and bureaucratic machinery is more or less reduced to a mere pawn in the hands of legislators charged with leading the country from the front. The change of guard at the state level certainly impinges upon the authority of the officialdom as an institution and simultaneously causes serious jerk and aspersion with respect to the demeanour of honest, truthful and outspoken cream of functionaries assisting the tandem network of democratic establishments. Frequent, chronic abrupt and unexpected transfers/postings of the officers undisputedly charge their fate with malevolence and rancor thereby perilously affecting and influencing the time honoured credibility in vogue since the colonial period. The said practice must be deprecated and knocked down to the extent possible so that we are in a position to isolate, segregate and divorce any kind of extraneous control over the authority of officials to initiate prompt, swift and expeditious decisions in the interest of the country as a whole. The integrity, rectitude and probity of the officials can only be maintained and preserved when they are in a position to explore and exploit their justifiable, reasonable and plausible actions taken in the interest of public.

Sameer Bhatia

Intention should

not be corrupt

Transfers and postings of high-ranking police and civil administration officials in the backdrop of a change in political leadership of a state are a routine affair. A public servant may be employed and transferred to another department or district by a competent authority. The rationality and legitimacy of this action depends upon the intent of the current political leadership in Punjab. The exercise of this power is justified if it is primarily motivated by the desire to improve the day-to-day functioning of the government and promote public welfare. Otherwise, it is illegal if it is based on personal discretion and malafides or compromises rules of administrative fairness and neutrality or adversely impacts the official status of the concerned bureaucrat. There is no doubt that accountability for under-performance lies basically with the ruling political elite. There may be reasons galore behind the recent bureaucratic rejig in Punjab, such as scapegoating or punishment for failure to deliver, assertion of political hierarchy over officialdom, exclusive political vendetta and showing favour to selected loyalists. Since, time at its disposal is very short, the new dispensation should realise that exertion of undue political pressure on non-complaint bureaucrats of proven integrity and competence undermines their career incentive and administrative efficiency, disturbs the education of their children and impedes meaningful social transformation. Rather, it should develop cordial relations with bureaucrats to improve governance in the interest of the state and its people.

DS Kang

No harm in shifting corrupt officials

The sudden change of guard just three months before the Assembly elections is the most defining moment that will have a lasting impact not only on the ruling faction-ridden Congress party but also on the topsy-turvy political landscape in Punjab. At a time when the state is confronted with a plethora of challenges like sacrilege, social and religious harmony, law and order, farmers’ protests, Covid-19 and dengue epidemics, women empowerment and other such issues, the current Channi-led ruling elite has been entrusted with the onerous task of fulfilling the remaining electoral promises to win public trust and confidence. Keeping in view the Punjab government’s transfer and posting policy guidelines, the recent bureaucratic reshuffle purportedly made in public interest and on administrative exigency is fully justified. There is no harm in transferring corrupt and non-performing bureaucrats to other departments and districts in the state on various administrative reasons. Normally, highly skilled, conscientious and efficient officers are immune to political change at the helm because the apex court has disproved their removal on politicians’ whims and fancies. Frequent politician-induced transfers and postings of these elite officials breed disaffection among them, adversely affect their job satisfaction and educational avenues of their children, and hamper holistic social changes. The Congress is in the throes of a deep political crisis. Right chemistry between the ruling politicians and bureaucrats is imperative to steer the state on the path of holistic development.

Tajpreet S Kang

Abrupt transfers cannot be justified

The transfers of IAS/ IPS officers followed by change of government cannot be held justified in any democratic setup of a polity. The administration is a continuous process whereas political leadership is transient and is subject to certain conditions as envisaged in the Constitution. The political leadership is responsible for framing the overall agenda for governance as per aspirations of the people whereas the bureaucrats are responsible for implementation thereof in accordance with law and rules. The political leaders generally tend to intimidate and influence the bureaucrats to carry out their own personal or political agenda for which bureaucrats are picked for crucial postings to meet their end. It is generally observed that the tool of transfer and posting is used by the politicians to carry out their nefarious designs against bureaucrats who perform their duties honestly and strictly as per law and equity.

Jagdish Chander

Foolproof mechanism need of the hour

The role of officials appointed to run the administration is supposed to be free, fair and impartial for the larger good of the people. However, during the conduct of various functions, some of the public servants get influenced and are tempted to a particular kind of political alignment. Under such a scenario, many of them get transferred to suit the vested political interests. Even the honest and disciplined officers at the helm of affairs from IAS/IPS cadre are no exception, which not only affects their morale, acumen to perform but also their mindset. It is worrisome that in the recent periods these strong pillars have shown signs of crumbling under pressure and vicious interests. A foolproof mechanism need to be devised and strictly enforced to maintain dignity and decorum whereby public servants do not get unduly influenced and remain devoted to duty. To protect the lofty democratic values, all these segments of power ought to serve independently, yet they should effectively and efficiently complement each other without any favour or prejudice towards the good of the people and the nation, as a whole!

Nirmaljit Singh Chatrath

Officials can’t take independent decisions

Soon after swearing in as the Chief Minister, Charanjit Channi issued transfer orders of nine IAS and two PCS officers in the state. Normally, it will not be in the interest of the state. They want their own team of loyalist and for effective management. New team is brought in for new challenges and responsibility. There is no guarantee that the new team will be more efficient than the last team, it takes time to adjust and understand the new scenario. The fate of top officers depends on ministers. They are just touts of ministers, can’t open their mouth and take decisions.

Shashi Kiran

Set up administration commission of India

• The way our police and IAS officers are being transferred and shunted out frequently, at the whims of their political bosses, there is going to be gross mismanagement in the state’s governance. There have been many instances of police & politics spat which results in summarily transfer of IAS/ Police officers, thus undermining the powers invested in administrative wing of the government
• It is high time to find a solution whether the police and IAS bureaucrats are put under the State or Centre government. As has come to fore, both the options have serious drawbacks. The police and IAS officers can do their duties effectively only if they are allowed to follow their independent judgement and set rules without being under any political pressure
• An independent authority like Administration Commission of India (ACI), a constitutional body having parliamentary sanctions like that of Election Commission of India, can should be established. Any discord or dispute between this Administration Commission and governments can be arbitrated by a Special Bench of the Supreme Court of India. LJS panesar

QUESTION

Punjab has been plagued by drug menace for years. Accountability on the widespread prevalence of drug trade in the state has never been fixed. Should the drug problem be a key issue ahead of elections in the light of recent seizures in the state?

Suggestions in not more than 200 words can be sent to jalandhardesk@tribunemail.com by Thursday (October 7)