The transfer of Ashok Khemka, a senior official probing the land deals between Robert Vadra and DLF by the Haryana government, shows how the empire can strike back. Politicians make use of their powers of transfer to ‘tame’ officers who refuse to help them in their corrupt deals. From my experience, I can say that the Central government staff were kept ‘obedient’ only by the threat of transfer to distant places during the Emergency.
IAS officers have their associations but they do not resort to direct action like other government staff. The associations should work towards improving their service conditions and securing a reasonable transfer policy. Courts too should set aside unjust government actions instead of holding that transfer is the prerogative of the government.
M.K.B. Nambiar,
Mahe
It is disappointing to see Congress leaders maintaining a deafening silence on the issue. It would be interesting to see how the loyalists of the Gandhi family protect the son-in-law from further turmoil.
Tisha Suresh,
Thrissur
Mr. Khemka’s determination has made him a national hero overnight in the country’s fight against corruption. I would like to reproduce what was written in Yugantar during the Swadeshi Movement. It exhorted “30 crore countrymen to raise their 60 crore hands to fight the might of the British.” Similarly, given the power they enjoy, if the nearly 4,500 IAS officers raise their voice against corruption, even petty corruption will not survive in our country.
Amit Kumar Jha,
Sitamarhi
Mr. Khemka’s transfer has opened a Pandora’s box of the strong nexus that exists among politicians, VVIPs and the bureaucracy. It is a reflection on our system which, instead of protecting the whistleblowers, protects those on whom it is blown.
Roopal Maheshwari,
Ajmer
