SHILLONG: The opposition Congress is getting vocal about transfer of bureaucrats in the state after an officer from Jowai was transferred after a minister threatened him “with necessary action”.
Congress spokesperson HM Shangpliang, referring to the transfer of Additional Deputy Commissioner of Jowai S Laloo, said, “It has been reported that Sammy Laloo was threatened, he was rebuked by the brother of a minister using expletives.”
“The minister threatened the officer that necessary action would be taken against him for not complying to certain requests made by him and his brother. In the same evening, the officer was transferred from Jowai to Ampati,” he added.
When asked, he said the transfer took place a few days ago and was instant when he refused to give them some favours.
Questioning the message sent by the government pertaining to the rampant transfer of officers, the MLA maintained that governance will crumble and officers will be demoralised in such situations.
When asked to reveal the name of the minister, Shangpliang told reporters, “It is better you it find out.”
Earlier, CLP leader Mukul Sangma had written to the government on the issue calling the transfers “haphazard”.
Despite the concern raised by Sangma, Shangpliang alleged that till date transfer orders are being issued at the whims and fancies of the government. He argued that the rampant transfers have disturbed the continuity and functioning of the governance.
“The government should stop transferring officers at random or on political reasons. This is not good,” he said.
“In the process, we are losing officers. Many IAS officers have left the state and gone to Delhi and other places in six months’ time,” he said.
Asserting that MCS officers are being “victimised” due to the transfer orders or “in the form of marching orders”, he expressed disappointment of the rampant transfer of senior government officers.
“We are shocked to hear that in Jaintia Hills, even a peon, a gram sevak and a school teacher have been transferred outside the district,” he added.
Shangpliang suggested that the government should contain itself to create conducive atmosphere for work from the lowest to the highest ranks.
