Government reverses HDMC commissioner transfer, reinstates officials statewide

Hubballi

The state government cancelled its earlier order of transferring HDMC Commissioner Rudresh Gali to the education department. It also suspended the transfer order pertaining to other officials across the state. Residents of twin cities were shocked when the government issued a transfer order on June 18, stating that HDMC Commissioner Gali was transferred as Additional Commissioner, School Education And Literacy, Dharwad, as Gali took charge just six months back. On Friday, the government issued a fresh order stating that this transfer order dated June 18 stands cancelled and all the officers will work in their earlier positions until further notice. With this new order, Rudresh Gali will continue to serve as HDMC Commissioner. HDUDA Commissioner Santosh Biradar, who was also transferred, will return to HDUDA. Sources said the state government had to cancel the transfer order bowing to pressure from the local MLAs as the government took a unilateral decision to transfer the officers without taking the local MLAs and other representatives into confidence. The ministers concerned are not taking local MLAs into confidence while making crucial decisions about transferring officers.

Sources said these days Ministers are making decisions to transfer officers and giving postings to their choice of officers based on their understanding with them without consulting local MLAs. In the process, some honest officers who are working sincerely are being transferred overnight, said sources. Sources also confirmed that local MLAs strongly opposed the government's decision to transfer the HDMC Commissioner without bringing it to their notice and insisted that he be reinstated. Surprisingly, the district minister was also not aware of the transfer of the HDMC Commissioner until the last minute, said a source. As a result of arguments and pressure on the Chief Minister to reinstate the HDMC Commissioner, the government cancelled its earlier order. Along with this. transfers of more than 10 officials were also cancelled across the state.