Ministers Unhappy Over CM's IAS Transfers Made Without Consulting Respective Ministers

Thiruvananthapuram: Discontent is reportedly growing among ministers over transfers at the top administrative level, including those involving IAS officers, allegedly being carried out with only Chief Minister V D Satheesan's knowledge. Education Minister N Shamsudheen has now raised objections to the frequent transfers in the General Education Department, saying they have disrupted its functioning.

Three IAS officers have been transferred from the post of Director General of Education (DGE) within three and a half months.

The minister has informed the Chief Minister's Office that repeatedly changing the DGE, who is responsible for crucial tasks such as school infrastructure development, staff deployment, the conduct of sports and arts festivals and various tender procedures, is not appropriate.

The frequent changes in the department during the first half of the academic year have adversely affected its overall functioning, it is alleged. The General Education Department oversees the future of more than half a crorechildren in the state and has a workforce of around 225,000 employees.

The transfers have been cited as an example of what is being described as the UDF government's irresponsible approach towards a department of critical importance to the state.

Earlier, Satheesan had intervened in the Revenue, Industries, KILA and Health departments and transferred IAS officers. Ministers had reportedly conveyed at the beginning of the government's tenure that such decisions without consultation could affect coordination between departments.

Despite these concerns, CM Satheesan is continuing to intervene in the portfolios of other ministers, with his approach being criticised within the Cabinet as increasingly unilateral.