PWD led by Ashok Chavan transfers 70 engineers in a day 'in public interest'

MUMBAI: The public works department led by senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan on Friday shunted out 70 high-ranking engineers, a record number, "in the public interest and for administrative convenience." For the first time in the history of the PWD, 70 executive, superintending and chief engineers were shifted on a single day. Most of these engineers have completed their mandatory three-year tenure.
"By and large, annual transfers in the public works department are spread over the months of April and May. However, owing to the coronavirus pandemic, the government had banned routine transfers. The ban was lifted and all departments were granted permission for routine transfers till August 10. Since only 15 per cent of the staff was in attendance, it took us some time to compile the data. Now we have completed the exercise and accordingly, 15 per cent of the eligible engineers have been shifted across the state," a senior PWD official told TOI.
The official claimed that all the transfers are in accordance with the provisions of the Government Servants Regulation of Transfers and Prevention of Delay In Discharge of Official Duties Act, 2005. "The law provides that only those officials who have completed a three- year tenure will be eligible for transfer, that too in the months of April and May," he said.
The official said once a transfer order is issued, it is mandatory for the staffer to join the new assignment with immediate effect, failing which stern disciplinary action would be taken. "If the staffer remains absent at the new posting, it will be considered as unauthorized absence and a break in service. We have proposed disciplinary action against such officials under the Maharashtra Civil Service Rules," he said.
If the official makes a representation to the government for change of the posting order, it will be considered a breach of discipline. The controlling authority has been directed not to accept any leave application of the transferred officials.