Transfer of AP officials hits minister block'

Hyderabad: The issue of transfers of state government employees is becoming a vexed issue between district collectors (IAS officials) and AP ministers. While Monday, June 20, is the last date for transfers in many districts, ministers are putting pressure on secretaries to direct heads of departments to not issue orders.

Several ministers are opposing collectors’ proposals on transfers at the district level and asking the HODs directly to not issue transfer orders.

This goes against Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s claim that there should be no political interference in employee transfers.

Secretaries of several departments have brought this to the notice of Chief Secretary S.P. Tucker.

According to guidelines issued by the government, ministers have no role to play in transfers. When Mr Naidu decided to lift the ban on general transfers, several ministers brought pressure on him to ensure that transfers were under the control of district in-charge ministers as was the case last year.

The officials have sent two types of proposals on transfers to Mr Naidu for his approval. With several allegations being made last year when the committees were formed under district in-charge ministers for transfers, Mr Naidu has opposed the continuation of the same system.

District collectors sent their proposals on transfers, keeping in mind that the aim is to achieve double digit growth as decided by the government. So, the Chittoor district collector surrendered about 60 officials, seeking new ones in their place. Similarly, collectors of other districts too sent their proposals on transfers. But in some districts, ministers opposed the transfers of some RDOs, MROs and others.

When this was brought to Mr Tucker’s notice, he decided to discuss the matter with the CM and see that orders were passed as per the collectors’ proposals.