National

Sorry, It's My Seat

A fiat is firming up to insulate officers from transfer raj

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Sorry, It's My Seat
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  • Centre to fix the tenure of all cadre posts in consultation with states
  • An officer has to serve his/her entire tenure at each posting. Exceptions if he/she is due for retirement, promotion or is sent on deputation/training.
  • Early transfer will need the nod from the Committee on Minimum Tenure (COMT) headed by the chief secretary
  • The officer to be transferred can present own case before the COMT
  • The COMT will provide the Centre a quarterly report of officers shortlisted for early transfer, and cite the reasons

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It may not sound like a revolutionary step towards good governance. But a recent government notification that seeks to ensure a minimum tenure at every posting for all officers of the Indian Administrative Service, the Indian Police Service and the Indian Forest Service is being avidly discussed in official circles. Ask any civil servant—particularly from Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and now Madhya Pradesh—and the response is that stability of tenure will guarantee greater accountability, a more efficient delivery of services and, therefore, good governance.

As a secretary in the central government put it, "Not only will stability insulate officers from political interference, it will also help them plan their work, which will automatically result in a better delivery of services. After all, it takes about six months to settle down in a job. It's only in the second year that you begin to work at your optimum level. If you are posted out within a few months, what can you achieve?"

The August 24 notification has been sent to state governments for comments because, without their cooperation, this will be a non-starter. A minimum tenure of three years—or, in some cases, two years—has been suggested for all listed cadre posts. The Union ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions—the nodal ministry—has suggested that:

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  • the central government consult the state governments and determine the tenure of all cadre posts;
  • an officer hold a post for the prescribed tenure unless he is promoted, retires or is sent on deputation outside the state;
  • an officer be transferred before the prescribed tenure only if the Committee on Minimum Tenure (COMT), headed by the state chief secretary, recommends it;
  • the views of the officer to be transferred should also be considered;.
  • the COMT submit a quarterly report to the Centre on officers transferred before the completion of the tenure.
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