CM Denies Transfer Powers to Ministers, Maintains Online System

In a significant administrative decision, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini has rejected ministers' demands for transfer powers, emphasizing that all transfers will continue through the established online system. Speaking to media outside Nada Sahib Gurudwara during Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Prakashotsav, the CM clarified the government's stance on the contentious issue.

The Chief Minister explained that employees seeking transfers should apply through the online system, with additional recourse available through DC-led committees for addressing specific grievances. This decision comes as a setback to ministers who had been seeking authority to transfer employees up to Group B level. 

Currently, the state's 11 cabinet ministers and 2 state ministers lack any transfer authority - they cannot even transfer Group-4 employees. All transfers are processed through the CM's office, specifically by an HCS officer at OSD level. This centralized system requires the Chief Minister's approval before any transfer orders can be issued. 

During their recent meeting with the CM, ministers had expressed concerns about the current system's inefficiency. They highlighted delays in getting approvals from the CM's office and argued that the existing structure sends a wrong message about their authority. The ministers had specifically requested transfer powers for Group B employees while agreeing to leave senior officials' transfers under the CM's purview.

This centralization of transfer authority has its roots in the previous administration. During Manohar Lal Khattar's second term as CM, minister's transfer powers were significantly curtailed. Although ministers traditionally held transfer powers for Group B employees for one month each year, this changed after 2019. Khattar had briefly granted transfer powers to ministers from November 25 to December 10, 2019, but these powers were withdrawn afterward and not restored from 2020 to 2024.

The current CM's decision maintains this centralized approach, emphasizing transparency and systematic processing of transfers through the online platform. This stance indicates a continuation of the administrative reforms implemented during the previous government, despite the change in leadership.