Devikulam sub-collector Sriram Venkatraman's transfer is no promotion

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The justification given by Revenue Minister E. Chandrashekharan for Devikulam sub-collector Sriram Venkatraman’s transfer has fallen flat. The minister had on Wednesday justified Cabinet decision to post Venkataraman as director Employment Training saying that it was promotion posting. He had termed it as routine administrative decision and even went to the extent of asking media persons whether they wanted the officer to stagnate  in his present position without promotion.

However, GO-4210-2017 issued by GAD on July 6 clearly states that Sriram V. IAS (KL 2013), sub-collector, Devikulam is transferred and posted as director of  Employment and Training. There is no mention of change in pay scale which indicates promotion. Therefore it was not promotion posting as claimed by the minister since Mr Venkatraman had already been promoted to senior grade  time scale on January 1, 2017 along with his batch mates of 2013. IAS officers are given senior time scale on entering fourth year in service. From fourth to seventh year they remain in the same grade and during this period the officers could be posted as sub collector, director of any departments or even collectors. However, seniority is taken into consideration for posting as collector.

In Sriram’s case, technically the promotion took place seven months ago.  Since the officer had continued in the post despite being promoted to senior time scale, he could have continued in the same position for another six months or more. However, the scenario could have been different had a tehslidar level officer been awaiting promotion to the post of deputy collector. Sources said Mr Chandrashekharan might have referred to promotion to avoid embarrassment when confronted by media persons soon after Cabinet meeting. 

The revenue minister and his party the CPI had categorically and repeatedly stated that there was no question of shifting officers implementing LDF government’s policy in Munnar. They had even gone to the extent of snubbing the local CPM, CPI and Congress leaders saying that officers cannot be transferred at the whims of fancies of the politicians. Another case scenario, a distant one, could be that Chandrashekharan was not in the know of procedures followed in IAS establishment.

While the timing of Venkatraman’s transfer which came a day after High Court upheld his eviction notice to a resort owner who encroached 22 cents of revenue land could be questionable, portraying it as a promotion transfer was  ridiculous. Many believe that transfers and postings of IAS officers as it is being the prerogative of the government, the minister could have avoided giving it “promotion” colour. The promotion explanation which was meant to hide the embarrassment of transfer has now landed the minister in an awkward situation.