Dehradun: Less than 36 hours after the transfer list was issued in Uttarakhand, the Personnel Department had to make changes to its list. The transfer list had assigned the responsibility of Director of Audit to a Finance Service officer, even though the post is reserved for the IAS cadre according to the audit gazette.
Officers Transferred on January 17: In the transfer list issued on Saturday, January 17, a Finance Service officer was given the important responsibility of Director of Audit. However, this post is reserved for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) cadre according to the gazette. The order sparked strong resentment in the audit department and among employee organizations.
Controversy over the Transfer of the Finance Service Officer: It is worth noting that this transfer list included a total of 18 IAS officers along with one Finance Service officer, Manmohan Mainali, who was also given a new responsibility. He was appointed Director of Audit at number 19 on the list. As soon as this order became public, the Uttarakhand Audit Service Association objected, calling it against the rules.
The association stated that the post of Director of Audit is clearly reserved for the IAS cadre in the gazette, and therefore, appointing an officer from another service cadre to this post is against the rules. They also said that if he is appointed Director of Audit, senior officers would have to work under him.
“Manmohan Mainali is originally a Finance Service officer and does not even qualify to become the head of his own department. Therefore, assigning him the highest post in the audit department is not only a disregard for the rules, but it also raises questions about departmental discipline and seniority. Several officers of senior batches to Mainali are already working in the audit department, so it is not possible for them to work under a junior officer from another service,” said Devendra Singh Chauhan, President, Uttarakhand Audit Service Association.
Resentment Among Employees and Officers: This decision also led to widespread discontent among the employees and officers of the department. Questions arose as to how the personnel department overlooked the fact that a finance service officer could not be appointed to the post of Director of Audit according to the rules. Discussions intensified regarding the level at which this lapse occurred or at whose behest this appointment was made.
The government backed down as protests and controversy escalated: As the protests and controversy grew, the government finally had to backtrack. Within 36 hours, the personnel department issued an amended order, revoking the order appointing Manmohan Mainali as Director of Audit. The government has now clarified that an officer from the Indian Administrative Service will soon be appointed to this post.
The list was changed in just 36 hours: Meanwhile, this entire episode has once again raised the question of why rules and cadre systems are not followed in important matters like transfers and appointments. The list being changed in just 36 hours has also raised several questions about the government’s functioning.
