Transfers in KSPCB raise eyebrows

The largescale transfer of officials of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), just two days before DV Sadananda Gowda resigned as chief minister, has raised many eyebrows.

The transfers were made on July 9, and were reportedly done after availing of permission from Gowda, who resigned on July 11.

However, sources said that as per norms the KSPCB had to avail permission from the ecology and environment department to carry out these transfers. Hence, they alleged that the KSPCB had violated service rules.

On July 9, the KSPCB issued a notification transferring eight senior environment officers (SEO), 18 deputy environment officers, 44 environment officers and 26 assistant environment officers throughout the state. Sources said the KSPCB had not transferred any officer last year.

An NGO Samarpana has taken up this issue. Its chief secretary Shivakumar Hosamani said the transfers were done violating rules framed by the forest, ecology and environment secretariat. According to the rules notified (dated September 30, 2010), the KSPCB should make appointments to posts as per the power vested under the cadre and recruitment, and conditions of service regulations of the boards and promotions, with the prior approval of government.

Shivakumar alleged that the KSPCB members and chairman had transferred officials after getting an order from the then chief minister and not from the department, which is authorised to carry out transfers.

He said that a chief minister cannot act or take decisions on his own as he is part of the government and not government himself. “The board cannot transfer the officials by just on the orders of the chief minister. The direction should come from the department. The most important part is that the transfers were made when the Sadananda Gowda government was in trouble. They got the order in a hurry as the board was unsure that the government continue and wanted to get the work done,” he said.

Expressing concern over alleged bribery to effect transfers, he said that officers paid bribes to board members and chairman to get transferred to Bangalore city. According to an insider, the transfer was done only on two criteria - caste and money.
Chief justifies

However, KSPCB chairman AS Sadashivaiah defended the mass transfers stating, “Many of these officers have been working in Bangalore and other places for more than six years. I thought it is the right time to transfer them. Many of them were not doing their jobs and a few deserve promotion. So, I had transferred them. What is wrong in it?”