Gowda assails move to transfer T.N. officials

By Our Staff Correspondent

MYSORE, JULY 31. The former Prime Minister, Mr. H.D. Deve Gowda, on Tuesday criticised the Union Government's decision to requisition the services of three IPS officers of the Tamil Nadu cadre for postings in the Cabinet Secretariat in Delhi.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Gowda said the Centre's decision was not only ``politically motivated'' but was also clearly violative of the rules governing Centre-State relations. Before taking such a decision, the Centre should have obtained legal opinion.

Mr. Gowda was reacting to the Union Home Ministry's recent letter seeking the services of the Chennai Police Commissioner, Mr. Muthukaruppan, the Joint Commissioner, Mr. S. George, and the Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Christopher Nelson, who were involved in the arrest of the DMK leader, Mr. M. Karunanidhi. The Centre's letter seeks the services of the three IPS officers for postings as officers on special duty.

Mr. Gowda questioned the Union Government's propriety in taking decisions to please certain individuals. Without referring to Mr. Karunanidhi's arrest, Mr. Gowda said it was obvious that the Centre was targeting the officials.

The Centre's directive contravened the guidelines governing transfer and recruitment of civil servants. The decision would have far-reaching consequences if the Union Government pursued with the transfer of the IPS officers from Chennai, Mr. Gowda said.

He demanded a debate on the matter in Parliament and urged the Opposition to take up the issue with the ruling coalition. ``The Opposition should not remain mum on such an important matter,'' he said.

Mr. Gowda urged the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, to convene a meeting of Chief Ministers to discuss the issue. He added that the Chief Ministers should voice their concern over the Centre's ``unjust'' move.

Asked about the Union Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Arun Jaitley's statement that the Centre was vested with overriding powers, Mr. Gowda reiterated that the Centre was obliged to take the State Government's consent before transferring civil servants of the State cadre.

``The Centre can effect transfer or initiate disciplinary action against officials only if they were on deputation to the Centre. How can they intervene when the official belongs to the State cadre?,'' Mr. Gowda asked.

The rules stipulated that the State Governments prepare a list of civil servants who could be relieved from their services for Central deputation. The Centre enjoyed the right to choose and reject officers from the list, Mr. Gowda clarified. The Centre's move was a clear infringement upon the rights of the States, he said.

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