LUCKNOW: In a bid to clamp down on the "transfer industry", the Mayawati Government on Monday announced a new transfer policy. Henceforth, the transfers of IAS, IPS and PCS (Provincial Civil Service) officers, below the rank of Principal Secretary and ADG, will be vetted by the Service Establishment Board, before being approved by the Cabinet Secretary.

No political interference will be allowed in the transfer and posting of officers.

This decision was taken at the inaugural meeting of the Cabinet, which was presided over by Ms. Mayawati.

Another important decision was the winding up of the Uttar Pradesh Development Council.

Assembly sitting

The Cabinet also decided to summon the sitting of the 15th Assembly on May 17 and 18. The newly elected MLAs will take oath on May 17 and the election of the new Speaker will be held on May 18. The inaugural session of the Assembly will begin from May 21.

A Government order will be issued to terminate the term of the chairmen and vice-chairmen of State Government corporations and undertakings who were appointed in the previous regime. In all, 64 chairmen and vice-chairmen had been appointed. The Government has received the resignation letters of only three chairmen.

Decentralisation

Briefing newspersons here, Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh said the transfer industry was a source of corruption, which was why it had been decided to decentralise the process of transfer and posting of officers. In 2007, only need-based transfers would be affected.

To enable the Chief Minister to concentrate on important issues concerning the State she would henceforth take decision only on the transfer of officers of the rank of Principal Secretary and above in the civil services, and ADG-ranked officers and above in the police services. He said Uttar Pradesh was the first State to introduce this concept.

The new transfer policy authorises Ministers to finalise the transfers of officers of the rank of joint director and above. However, the decision on the transfer and posting of Class I officers will be taken by the Principal Secretary or the Secretary of the department concerned. The transfers of Class II officers will be finalised by the head of department.

Late on Sunday night, around 200 IAS and IPS officers were transferred. The transfer list was released around 1.30 a.m. The Chief Minister's Secretariat now has two Principal Secretaries and six Secretaries. Besides, Mr. Shashank Shekhar Singh will hold the dual charge of Deputy Chairman, State Planning Commission. He becomes the first bureaucrat since its inception in the early 70s to be appointed Deputy Chairman. The Planning Commission is headed by the Chief Minister.

The Government on Monday appointed Jyotindra Mishra as the next Advocate-General. He succeeds SMA Kazmi. Diwakar Tripathi was appointed Director, Information.

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