Amid speculations of an overhaul of the transfer policy, employees in the state have been left surprised by a rumoured Madhya Pradesh government move to take the process online to enhance transparency.
Speculations of a change in the policy started in July, and it was said that a comprehensive round of administrative transfers could commence anytime after August 15. However, the deadlines kept getting pushed back.
No decision regarding the policy was made at a recent meeting of the state cabinet, but sources claim that consensus has been reached on a decision to take the process online.The government has instructed all departments to prepare and submit files online instead of offline. It is believed that a significant announcement regarding the transfer policy could be made at the next cabinet meeting.
Those in the know say that ruling party lawmakers have been pressuring the state government to implement the new transfer policy immediately.The decision was, however, postponed due to concerns that it might affect the BJP membership campaign.
Thus, it is expected that the approval of the new regulations and the subsequent lifting of the transfer ban will likely happen in the first week of October, coinciding with an upcoming cabinet meeting.
Jitendra Singh, the state general secretary of the Madhya Pradesh State Employees Union, has stated that the Mohan Yadav government should pay attention to the interests of employees.The new transfer policy includes both old and new elements.
The new transfer policy will cap transfers in any cadre to no more than 20 percent. In larger cadres, transfers will be limited to 5 percent.
Moreover, district in-charge ministers will have significant influence over the fresh transfers. Transfers of officials and employees will not occur without the approval of the ministers in charge.
However, these ministers will have to wait a few more days before they can exercise their special powers.The term "minister in charge" refers to ministers assigned to different districts. According to Madhya Pradesh government rules, ministers are given responsibility for various districts in addition to their departments.
Notably, no minister is assigned to their home district; they oversee the entire administration of another district.Consequently, all activities in a district must be reported to the minister in-charge who then reports to the Chief Minister. Previously, the relevant departmental minister had significant influence in transfers, but under the new policy, transfers of district officials and employees will only occur with the approval of these ministers.
