The state government of Tripura has transferred eight senior IAS and IFS officers in the interest of the public, according to a formal notification issued by J. Datta, under secretary to the Tripura government, on behalf of Governor Satyadeo Narayan Arya.
The transfer list includes senior IAS officer Abhishek Chandra, who has been transferred to the departments of planning, including statistics department independently, and has been relieved of the charges of scheduled caste welfare and industries and commerce, including handloom, handicrafts, sericulture but excluding information technology department.
Additionally, B.B. Mishra (IFS), principal secretary in charge of fisheries and annual resource development department, will also hold the additional charge of scheduled caste welfare department. K.S. Sethi, PCCF and principal secretary in charge of forest and science, technology, and environment department, will also hold the additional charge of industries and commerce (including handloom, handicraft, and sericulture, excluding information technology department).
S. Prabhu (IFS), who was repatriated from inter-cadre deputation, has been posted as director of tribal welfare department. L.T. Darlong, director of tribal welfare department, has been relieved of his charge, though he will retain charge of TRP and PTG.
In addition to this, A.K. Bhattacharjee has been allotted the additional charge of revenue (relief, rehabilitation, and disaster management) over and above his charge as special secretary Revenue and GA (AR) departments.
Puneet Agarwal, principal secretary revenue and industries and commerce (information technology), has been relieved of the charge of revenue (relief, rehabilitation, and disaster management). Apurba Kumar Roy has been relieved from the charges of planning, including statistics and home (fire and emergency services) departments, though he will retain charges of agriculture and farmers welfare and general administration, etc.
Sources in the administration revealed that the IAS officers are deeply unhappy with the increasing infiltration of forest service officers of the IFS cadre in various posts of the general administration. They may take a decision on this at their organizational level to stop such infiltration.
The move comes amidst growing concerns over the effectiveness of administrative services in the state. The government has been facing criticism over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and several opposition parties have accused it of mismanagement and corruption.
The transfer of senior officers is being seen as an attempt to shake up the administration and bring in fresh faces to improve performance. It is hoped that the new officers will be able to address the concerns of the public and bring about much-needed reforms in the system.
However, the move has also been criticized by some who see it as an attempt to silence dissent and remove officers who are not in line with the government’s policies. They argue that such transfers should be made based on merit and not as a means of political retribution.
The transfer of senior officers in Tripura is a significant development that will have far-reaching implications for the state’s administrative services. It remains to be seen how the new officers will perform and whether they will be able to meet the expectations of the public.
