Bengaluru: The high court observed that requests for transfers and postings should not be directly entertained by the chief minister’s office, stressing that such routine service matters must be handled at the departmental level.A division bench of Justices DK Singh and TM Nadaf made the observation while disposing of a writ appeal filed by S Chethan, assistant engineer (electrical) with Bescom. Chethan, who was posted in Whitefield division, had filed multiple petitions between 2022 and 2024 challenging his transfer and also to consider his request for a mutual transfer with another engineer, supported by a recommendation from the chief minister’s office (CMO). A single bench dismissed his petitions in Sept 2024, directing him to report to Bescom’s east division-12.The high court noted that it has come across several instances where letters or approvals issued from CMO appeared to influence transfers of Group B and C employees, sometimes overriding decisions of competent authorities.In the appeal proceedings, the chief secretary clarified through an affidavit that communications from CMO are merely recommendatory and do not constitute transfer orders or approvals. Final decisions, he said, rest with the departments concerned, which must assess such requests in accordance with Cadre and Recruitment Rules and general transfer guidelines issued by department of personnel and administrative reforms (DPAR).Taking note of the clarification, the division bench reiterated that transfers and postings should remain within the domain of administrative departments, adding that the highest executive authority of the state (CMO) should not devote time or interfere in such routine service matters.
