Tahsildars, BDOs stage sit-in protest

Agitating against mass transfers

The tahsildars in Vellore and Tiruvannamalai districts on Monday boycotted work and staged sit-in protests in their respective block and taluk offices against their mass transfer to other districts.

With the sit- in protests official work was paralysed in many taluks and blocks in Tiruvannmalai and Vellore districts. The protesting officials said such mass transfers outside their districts would certainly affect their performance during Lok Sabha elections.

270 tahsildars

Official sources said 270 tahsildars in the State were transferred in view of upcoming Lok Sabha elections after a video-conference of all Collectors and the Commissioner of Revenue Administration K. Satyagopal was held.

An office bearer of Tamil Nadu Revenue Officers Association said that tahsildars were involved in a variety of election-related work apart from being AROs and AEROs and were crucial in ensuring smooth conduct of elections. Transferring them outside the district would take a toll on election work.

“The newcomers will lack local knowledge, which is crucial for election work, particularly in identifying sensitive/vulnerable areas and ensuring law and order,” he said.