Transfer industry takes toll of governance: Harsh

NPP leader Harsh Dev Singh addressing press conference in Jammu.
NPP leader Harsh Dev Singh addressing press conference in Jammu.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 29: Expressing dismay over the unprecedented wholesale pre-mature transfers having been effected during the last few months of the BJP-PDP rule, chairman of the NPP and former minister Harsh Dev Singh accused the present regime of promoting corruption and nepotism through the mode of  transfer industry.
Addressing press conference here today, Singh said that the slogans of accountability and transparency stood exposed with the myth of good governance having been completely busted as the Chief Minister stated in response to a question in the Budget Session of  Assembly held in January 2017 that around 2000 pre-mature transfers had been effected in the State from March 2015 to December 2016.
He regretted that rather than the said statement of the Chief Minister acting as a deterrent, the malaise grew manifold with wholesale pre-mature and irregular transfers effected by various Govt Departments during the last few days particularly on the last day of  Darbar move. He said that the most distressing aspect was the non-recording of reasons as mandated under the transfer policy for all the pre mature transfers which had been effected at the whims and fancies of helmsmen for their vested political, personal and pecuniary interests.
Maintaining that promotion of transfer industry seemed to be the only concern of the current dispensation during the past around two years, Singh regretted that the nasty conduct of the helmsmen had taken a heavy toll of the general governance of the State. He further regretted that the mechanism of transfers in J&K had been plagued with the menace of favouritism, nepotism, monetary and other extraneous considerations with no regard to the individual’s suitability and efficiency for the prescribed job.
He regretted that what mattered most in the transfers was the political or bureaucratic clout and proximity to corridors of power thereby jeopardizing the very concept of transparency and accountability