NEW DELHI: Ashok Khemka, who has set a record of sorts following the latest transfer in his 22-year-long career, is not alone.
On an average, 50 per cent of the IAS officers spend less than a year in their respective posts, according to government data. Khemka’s average tenure is 234 days.
However, data incorporated in 10th report of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission, ‘Refurbishing of Personnel Administration-Scaling New Heights’, between 1978 and 2006 only 10 per cent of the total number of IAS officers spent more than three years in their respective postings.
Only eight per cent of IAS officers had more than three years of tenure while just 10 per cent had two-three years’ tenure in 2006. The data was analysed on the basis of 4,711 officers’ list.
And the 2006 data suggested that 55 per cent spent less than a year in their respective postings while 27 per cent spent between one-two years.
■ Ashok Khemka was transferred for the 45th time in his career of 22 years ■ Vineet Chaudhary, an IAS officer of 1982 batch, was transferred 56 times in his 32-year-long career ■ Winston Mark Simon, a 1977 batch IAS officer, who is now retired, was transferred 50 times with an average stay in a post for four months ■ M Shayin, a 2002 batch Haryana cadre officer, was also transferred 23 times in 11 years |
The report had recommended fixing of tenure for all Civil Service positions under the supervision of Central Civil Services Authority. “The number of IAS officers spending less than a year in their respective postings has gone up from 48 to 60 per cent of the total strength of the IAS officers over the years,” the report analysing data from 1978-2006 had stated.
Among the officers, Vineet Chaudhary, an IAS officer of 1982 batch, was transferred 56 times in his 32-year-long career. Last year, Chaudhary was transferred three times. According to his Executive Record sheet, Chaudhary’s minimum stay in one post was just two months in 2013. Similarly, Winston Mark Simon, a 1977 batch IAS officer, who is now retired, was transferred 50 times with an average stay in a post for four months. M Shayin, a 2002 batch Haryana cadre officer was also transferred 23 times in 11 years.
Hota Committee in its report citing evidences collected by it had mentioned that the “officials of the state government- particularly officials of the All India Services serving in connection with affairs of the state- are quite demoralised as they are transferred frequently on the whims and caprices of local politicians and other vested interests, who successfully prevail upon the Chief Minister/ minister to order such transfer”.
The Committee had recommended fixed tenure for officials in order to ensure effective functioning of the government machinery.
