Kerala: Massive transfer of employees at Secretariat

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A day after the LDF government retained power with a huge mandate, a massive shuffle of employees, from the rank of undersecretary to additional secretary, was effected at the Secretariat. As many as 65 employees were transferred by the general administration department on Monday.
The order has made five mutual transfers, in addition to transferring several employees to posts within the secretariat as well as those in several organizations outside.
Those who have been shunted out of the secretariat have been transferred to organizations like state higher education council, RTI commission, Norka Roots, IMG, minority commission, council for food research and development, commission for backward classes, DHS, directorate of scheduled tribes, Kerala warehousing corporation, MDB, Kerafed, Kerala House in New Delhi, Matsyafed, Kollam fashion technology institute, Natpac, centre for continuing education, higher secondary directorate, youth welfare board, printing directorate and Munnar engineering college.
A majority of those who have been transferred are members of pro-UDF associations. “Most of those who have been transferred to offices outside the Secretariat are from pro-UDF employee unions. It is a usual practise followed in such transfer matters to send employees of unions that are not in power to comparatively lessrelevant posts or other offices outside the secretariat,” said additional secretary J Bency who is also the president of pro-Congress employee organization Kerala Secretariat Association.
Sources at secretariat said that these transfers also ensure promotion for employees at secretariat. “Once an employee is promoted, he is transferred on deputation to an organization outside, so that the person below him is elevated. In most cases, employees of the pro-ruling front are retained in the Secretariat,” said a senior official with the general administration department.
Sources added that the order was kept ready during the election period and was issued on May 3, immediately after ensuring that the LDF government has retained power.
However, pro-CPM employee unions dismissed malintentions in the promotiontransfer order.
“There is no politics in the said order for the transfer and promotion of employees. It was issued on May 3 so that it is not delayed till the new cabinet comes, which would mean a wait till May 18. There are four employees who would retire on May 31 who are awaiting promotions, which would mean that if the order is delayed till then, they would get only 10 days in the post. There are employees from both unions in the transfer list,” said additional secretary P Honey, who is also the president of pro-CPM Kerala Secretariat employees’ association.