The Karnataka High Court on Thursday directed the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner to review and cancel within two months all the postings and transfers made on recommendations of ministers, including the Chief Minister.
Justice H.G. Ramesh passed the order after noticing from the BBMP records that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy had made certain recommendations with regard to transfer of two officials.
“The Commissioner of BBMP is directed to review all such transfers which are made at the dictation of Ministers and cancel the same and pass orders giving them appropriate postings,” the judge said in his order.
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The court also observed that political executives such as ministers have no power to interfere in the internal transfers of the BBMP as the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act empowers only the Commissioner to do so.
The court passed the order while hearing a petition filed by B.T. Mohan Krishna, questioning his transfer to the post of executive engineer (lakes) from the post of deputy director, town planning (south) with effect from September 6, and posting T.P. Panchaksharaiah to his old position.
On perusing the records, Justice Ramesh noticed that while Mr. Krishna had a recommendation letter from the Chief Minister for allowing him to continue in his post of deputy director, Mr. Panchaksharaiah had letters from the Chief Minister and Mr. Reddy recommending him for the post.
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It was Mr. Krishna’s contention that his transfer was “premature” as he had served in the post for only about four months.