The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Seventy vehicle inspectors ‘transferred’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 05, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Seventy vehicle inspectors ‘transferred’

Anil Kumar Sastry

BANGALORE: Seventy inspectors of motor vehicles (IMVs) of the Transport Department were reportedly transferred on Tuesday evening and were orally asked to get relieved immediately ostensibly to avoid the model code of conduct that came into force after the State Election Commission announcing the calendar of events for the elections to urban local bodies.

The higher authorities had reportedly directed the transferred IMVs over telephone to get relieved from their place of duty and report to the new place immediately. Sources said that after the officers report to duty, transfer orders with back-date might be issued.

Transfers and promotions in this fertile department had been in vogue since a month at a time when the coalition partners in the Government were readying for transfer of power in October. Some 15 days back, a few assistant secretaries and senior IMVs were promoted as Assistant Regional Transport Officers (ARTOs).

Sunday, a holiday, did not deter the spirit of the powers in the transport department, who transferred 13 RTOs in a hurry. Similarly, over 17 ARTOs were transferred on Monday. Though the list of IMVs to be transferred was ready by Saturday, the same was not finalised due to differences between two factions among the IMVs, the sources said.

Efficiency

All the transfers, though the department claimed for administrative efficiency, were to cash-rich border check-posts and similarly places regional transport offices, the sources said. The sources said that the transfers were being effected at the instance of Transport Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy. It may be noted that Mr. Cheluvarayaswamy might not hold the same portfolio after the elections to urban local bodies, as by that time the portfolios would get reshuffled after the exchange of power with coalition partner BJP.

Telephonic instructions were being issued from the office of the Principal Secretary (Transport), who was reluctant to oblige the directions, late on Tuesday. When asked about the overnight transfer on Tuesday night, D. Thangaraj, the Principal Secretary, told The Hindu, that he did not know.

Though the IMVs, ARTOs and RTOs constitute a very small number, transfers of these officers take place every year. Last year itself, over 120 IMVs out of 170 IMVs were transferred.

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