What Odisha government’s rein-in order to bureaucrats signals

The Odisha government has issued an unusual order, prohibiting “all government employees…from exercising any form of influence, direct or indirect, to secure favourable transfers or postings”. The November 11 order, which appears to be unprecedented, is being seen as yet another crackdown upon the bureaucracy, which was perceived during the previous Naveen Patnaik regime as enjoying an upper hand over elected representatives.
The letter from chief secretary Manoj Ahuja to secretaries of all departments and district collectors cites Rule 23 of the Odisha Government Servants’ Conduct Rules, 1959. The rule states: “No government servant shall bring or attempt any influence whether official or non-official to bear upon any authority to further his interests in respect of matters pertaining to his appointment under government, promotion, pay and other service conditions.”
Sources in the administration said the letter became “necessary” after it was found that several bureaucrats were trying to exert “extraneous influence” on their transfers or postings. Many were opting for departments where there would be less work while others wanted lucrative appointments.
The letter cautions that any violation of Rule 23 would attract “disciplinary action” against those guilty. “Transfers and postings of employees are usually taken up as per administrative exigencies, considering merit, and following established procedures. Any attempt to circumvent this process will be viewed as a serious misconduct, which will attract disciplinary action,” the letter states.
Ever since the BJP assumed power in the state, sustained attempts are seen as having made to dilute the powers of the bureaucracy. Multiple reshuffles were ordered, with the latest executed on November 11. Not just IAS or IPS officers, even engineers and other administrative posts were rejigged. Officers thought to be close to former chief minister Patnaik and his Man Friday, former bureaucrat V.K. Pandian, were shunted to weaker postings while others were brought to the forefront.
As law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan puts it, the bureaucracy has to work with the elected representatives and cannot think of themselves as superior.
However, there are several non-takers of this theory within the administration. Many IAS officers, on condition of anonymity, said they had a freer hand at work during the earlier regime. “But now, there is too much political interference. Also, most of the schemes and policies are decided by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and directions are passed down the line to the state,” claimed an officer, requesting anonymity.
In a separate development, the Mohan Charan Majhi government removed Minati Behera as chairperson of Odisha State Commission for Women, citing the body’s “unsatisfactory performance”. Behera was appointed during Patnaik’s rule. Majhi had removed four other members of the commission.
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