Flip-flop on DC’s transfer order puzzles many in dist

Shreyas HS | TNN | Apr 30, 2020, 04:07 IST

Kalaburagi: The state government’s order transferring deputy commissioner Sharath B, which was rescinded within an hour on Tuesday, came as a surprise to many.
According to sources, the DC had earned a good impression when he initially contained the spread of Covid-19 despite the district seeing country’s first fatality. Sources close to DC claimed that the state government had developed high regards for the officer for his hard work.
However, as days progressed, new cases sprang up in the district, making the task of district administration difficult. Five deaths in the next few days painted a different picture for Kalaburagi. Finally, the DC’s transfer order came on Tuesday.
But sources privy to the DC’s day-to-day activities say that there could be other reasons for the change of opinion and that is why his transfer was stopped. The public in Kalaburagi are of the opinion that the top officer is working relentlessly on the ground and the surge in cases is due to people who travelled to Delhi. Besides, the hike in positive cases happened in other districts too.
An officer in the district administration said that a fortnight ago, doctors at the covid frontline threatened to halt work citing shortage of protective gears or PPE. This irked the DC, forcing him to warn the doctors of consequences. Although it was amicably solved, the incident resulted in a crack between medical fraternity and Sharath.
Sources say that the upset doctors might have influenced the government to change its opinion or some others used the opportunity to get the DC transferred.
“Frankly I am not aware of the reasons behind the government’s move. I am simply doing my duty and I do not know why the government arrived at this decision,” Sharath told TOI.
The DC said that within an hour of his transfer order, chief minister B S Yediyurappa telephoned him and directed him to continue in the post, saying the order was withheld. .
Political nexus suspected
At least two reliable sources in the district administration point fingers at liquor mafia. A source said the liquor mafia, eyeing profit in the hour of crisis, were selling spurious liquor. More importantly, the hooch producers have political backing, cutting across party lines and also those in power. “However, the DC went hammer and tongs against production, transportation and sale of such liquor,” said a source.
Former BJP MLA Malikayya Guttedar who has interest in the liquor business asked how could someone level allegations against liquor owners. “In fact, it was me and Jadav who spoke to chief secretary Vijay Bhaskar to reverse the order,” he said. Guttedar added that some unidentified persons may have misguided the chief secretary about DC.
Interestingly, Malikayya Guttedar and Jadav released a video moments after the order claiming that the duo has spoken to chief secretary to withdraw the order.