High Court frowns at political interference

Transfer and posting of employees, officers

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, June 8: Arbitrary transfer and posting of officers and the overt political interference in it has drawn the ire of the Gauhati High Court.

A bench of Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has termed as "unfortute" that officers in Assam, like in many other states, are dependent on political blessings for better postings.

The court was hearing a petition filed by one Baikuntha Koch, a block level officer, who was shuffled around from one place to another at the whims and fancies of politicians.

"Transfer and posting is a tural procedure and it is done in the greater interest of the public. An officer has to obey the orders. But it is seen that the officers tend to pursue their postings politically. The political support they get is also unfair," the bench observed.

Unhappy at the state of affairs, the court said the political interference in transfer, postings and stays goes against Assam Service Rules.

During the hearing, the court came across letters and communications written by ministers Rakibul Hussain, Sarat Barkataky, Nurjamal Sarkar and MLA Sanjay Raj Subba and CM's press advisor Bharat rah who interfered in the postings of the complaint.

Meanwhile, sources in the secretariat said that the political dispensation in Dispur devotes 30 per cent of their time in looking into the transfer and posting of the officers. "At times, ministers and MLAs meddle with the transfer and posting of even low rank employees like hawaldars," they said.

This, in turn, has brought down the standard of administration in the State.

"Officers or employees who receives political patroge become delinquent and tend to pay no heed to their seniors," the sources rued.