One engineer, two postings: Kerala Irrigation Department transfer order sparks row

Kozhikode, Kerala: A transfer order involving engineers in Kerala’s Irrigation Department has triggered widespread criticism after the same officer was transferred to two different places in the same order. Following protests, the order was put on hold two days later and revised to assign the officer to only one location.

The order has also drawn criticism for transferring engineers who had been working in their existing offices for only a few months. Some officers have approached the Administrative Tribunal challenging the transfers.

In one case, an Assistant Executive Engineer working in Kozhikode was initially transferred to Parappanangadi, according to the order. The same order also stated that the officer was being transferred from Kozhikode to Kasaragod.

Amid the confusion, the officer joined the Parappanangadi office on Wednesday. However, late on Thursday night, the order transferring the officer to Parappanangadi was cancelled and a fresh order was issued directing the officer to compulsorily join at Kasaragod.

Another engineer from Kozhikode was transferred to Wayanad despite having worked in the current office for only 11 months. Officers are generally transferred after around three years at the same location.

The officer subsequently approached the Administrative Tribunal and secured a stay. However, in an order issued on Thursday night, the officer was again posted to Wayanad.

There are also allegations that the names and current places of work of several officers were incorrectly mentioned in the transfer order.

The transfer list for Assistant Engineers includes 62 names. There are also complaints regarding the transfers of other engineers. Even in the case of Superintending Engineers, officers who have only a few months left before retirement have not been spared from the transfers.