Haryana govt rules out political motive behind Khemka's transfer

The officer on special duty of Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Bhupeshwar Dayal, on Thursday said whistleblower IAS officer Ashok Khemka's transfer to the Archaeology and Museums Department was a routine activity and added that there was no political motive behind it. "It is a routine transfer. There were other officers, who have been transferred and not only Khemka ji. There is neither political nor official motive behind his transfer," he told ANI.

The officer on special duty of Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Bhupeshwar Dayal, on Thursday said whistleblower IAS officer Ashok Khemka's transfer to the Archaeology and Museums Department was a routine activity and added that there was no political motive behind it.

"It is a routine transfer. There were other officers, who have been transferred and not only Khemka ji. There is neither political nor official motive behind his transfer," he told ANI.

Dayal said it was the chief secretary's prerogative to make any transfers, adding that the state government does not interfere in such activities.

"It is the prerogative of the chief secretary how he handles his team, the government does not interfere in the day to day transfers. The government's work is to frame polices and to supervise," he said.

Dayal further said that there are no differences between Khemka and any minister or officers.

Khemka's name figured in the list of nine IAS officers, who were transferred earlier on Wednesday evening. This is Khemka's 46th transfer in his 22 years of service as an IAS officer. The latest transfer comes just four months after Khemka was appointed Haryana's Transport Commissioner.

"Tried hard to address corruption and bring reforms in Transport despite severe limitations and entrenched interests. Moment is truly painful," he tweeted.