T-T transfers: Chaos reigns supreme

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">LUCKNOW: The trade-tax department is abuzz with activity as in an unprecedented move an order has been issued to reinstate all 418 officials from 18 offices transferred on June 17.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">This annulment of the earlier transfer order, according to trade-tax officials, has created a sort of anarchy within the department as many of the officers had already taken charge of their new postings, and shifted out of their respective towns.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">One senior official expressed surprise saying that while there was an option to modify the earlier order, "to do so at such a large scale is making a complete mockery of the entire procedure".</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">Apparently, the only explanation offered by the trade-tax commissioner is that the last date of transfers has been extended by the government from June 20 to June 30, and that in lieu of this extension, the earlier order has been reversed.All officers have been asked to revert back to their earlier posts. Interestingly, former trade-tax commissioner Deepak Singhal was also transferred and it is now being speculated whether he will again take charge of his old post.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">New trade tax commissioner Rakesh Garg also finally took charge at 10 pm on Thursday under protest and only after a direct order was given by the chief minister. According to sources, once the transfer imbroglio is solved, Garg may also be replaced by a third person.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">Government policy had specified that all transfer formalities in every department must be completed by June 20, but later extended this last date to June 30. Officials, however, feel that the explanation offered was not sufficient and the real reason behind this reinstatement was that these were politically motivated transfers. It is being speculated that people close to the chief minister were incensed by the large-scale transfers and vested interests, including influential traders, badgered the government to reverse the order.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">Trader leaders who felt that their men in the T-T department had been affected, ensured that the commissioner found it obligatory to reverse the order.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">Another problem that has cropped up due to this order is that those who are in the middle of shifting to the new post find that their old post has been filled and they have not taken their new charge. Now with the reversal, will they be served their orders at home as they are left without a charge for the time being?</span></div> </div>