Calcutta, Oct. 10: Increasing interference by politicians, including ministers, in the postings of West Bengal Civil Services officers has prompted the government to form a six-member committee headed by health minister Surjya Kanta Mishra to oversee postings.
Mishra told The Telegraph that the government would not tolerate intervention in the postings of WBCS officers.
“We intend to follow in toto the existing rules and regulations and will not allow anyone to wield any influence in this regard,” he said.
“No minister will have the liberty to personally choose his departmental officers. A minister and his departmental secretary will have to work with the officers posted in the department. However, we shall definitely take steps against officers found inefficient or corrupt,” asserted the minister.
Mishra said computers would be used to monitor postings and transfers to ensure greater transparency and reduce the scope of manipulation.
The panel, which also includes finance minister Asim Dasgupta, home secretary (PAR) D.K. Chakraborty and a representative of the WBCS Association, will oversee postings and the performance of the officers. The committee will also redress the officers’ grievances and take steps against those indulging in corrupt practices.
The home secretary will prepare the list of officers to fill up vacancies in the 1,767 sanctioned WBCS posts in the state — from block development officers to special secretaries — and issue orders on getting Mishra’s approval.
With Mishra being entrusted with overseeing the transfer and posting of WBCS officers, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee will now only handle matters relating only to IAS and IPS officials.
The government’s decision to form the high-level committee came in the wake of growing discontent among a section of WBCS officers over transfers and postings who felt some ministers and senior bureaucrats always have their way in selecting officers. “Some ministers and senior officers opt for WBCS officers of their choice. There are also some officers who obtain prize postings with the blessings of a minister or political bigwig. We want to stop this practice and feel the government should strictly enforce the rules regarding transfers and postings,” said a senior WBCS officer at Writers’ Buildings.
A delegation from the WBCS Association recently met the chief minister and sought his intervention to check political interference in postings. The CPM leadership also discussed the issue in Bhattacharjee’s presence.
CPM leader held: Rahamatulla Peyada, a CPM candidate in the last panchayat elections, was arrested while he and two of his associates were fleeing after robbing Rs 4 lakh from the employees of a petrol pump in Mathurapur (South 24 Parganas).
Peyada was nabbed after he fell from the motorcycle he had used to commit the crime. A revolver, three rounds of ammunition and a few bombs were recovered from him.
Peyada and his associates had snatched a bag containing money from two employees of Swarnalata petrol pump who were going to deposit the cash.
