IAS Officers Notorious For Walking Their Dog In Public Stadium Transferred to Ladakh and Arunachal; Is It A Punishment?

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For the past few days, Indian netizens are having way too much fun over the case of two IAS officers - Rinku Dugga and Sanjeev Khirwar. The IAS couple was met with harsh public criticism after they allegedly vacated a stadium to walk their dogs. And within hours, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had officiated their transfers to the two ends of the country. But beneath all the internet trolls and memes, is there a deeper issue here to address?

Given the nature of their transfers and the post location, many people have labeled it as a ‘punishment transfer’. But transfers for IAS officers occur all the time; why then is this particular case being stained as a punishment?

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One of the first people to react was Omar Abdullah, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister questioning why a post in Ladakh was a punishment for Sanjeev Khirwar.

“Why are people calling Ladakh a ‘punishment posting’? For one it’s a beautiful place with very hospitable people & some stunning places to visit and second, it’s demoralizing for the people there to be given the impression that officers only get sent there as a punishment,” he tweeted.

Mahua Moitra pitched in for Arunachal Pradesh and tweeted,

“Why shame Arunachal by transferring errant Delhi bureaucrat there? Why pay lip service to North East & then treat area like a dump for your rubbish, MHA? Please protest”

In another tweet, she stated “For all Vishwaguru disciples pointing out what AGMUT stands for - one small point: Transfer is NOT only disciplinary option available for errant officers. Ever thought of that?”

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Some even went as far as comparing this with the longstanding issue of the VIP bureaucrats in the country, when civil servants enjoyed more privileges than the ‘common citizens’ causing a huge rift in trust between citizens of the same country.

Why is it seen as punishment?

One reason could be the immediate transfer of the officers to separate locations. Of course, the immediate transfer of two top-level officers after a public outcry is open to speculation.  

But is that the only reason?

Both the officers belong to the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territories) cadre of the IAS. After the passing of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill in 2021, these areas too were merged with the AGMUT cadre.

Areas under this cadre are split into two categories - Category A or ‘regular areas’ (Delhi, Chandigarh, Goa, Puducherry, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu) and Category B or ‘hard areas’ (Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram, J&K and Ladakh).

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Officers administering the regions of the said hard areas do enjoy special perks and incentives. But its geographical isolation and variations in culture, climate, and linguistics are often a tough challenge in administration. Due to both the officers being transferred to ‘hard areas’ it leaves little room to assume that this was not a punishment transfer.

Not the first of its kind

Punishment transfers for officers are not a brand new idea. It has been in existence almost as long as the civil services itself. If an officer crosses the political leader of their region with huge influence and power, they could likely be facing a transfer.

According to retired IAS officer M.G. Devasahayam quotes in an article, “These kinds of devious transfers of IAS officers, which are very frequent in some states, are humiliating for the officer, and a fraud on the people and public exchequer.” 

He also gives the example of Ashok Khemka and Pradeep Kasni where the former faced 54 transfers in 30 years and the latter endured a record-breaking 70 transfers in his 33-year-long career. He expressed that he, himself faced such humiliation during his career.

Yet despite the humiliation, it is far-fetched to label it as a punishment. So it all boils down to one question: Why are Sanjeev Khirwar’s and Rinku Dugga’s transfers considered a punishment? Is it only because they have been ousted from India’s booming capital? What is your opinion on this? 

This article is based on the opinions of M.G. Devasahayam, a retired IAS officer and chairman of People-First reported by ThePrint.

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