Under EC’s direction, Hassan gets new DC

The State government, as per directions from the Election Commission (EC), on Saturday, transferred Hassan Deputy Commissioner Akram Pasha and appointed Priyanka Mary Francis in his place. Ms. Francis, who was the Director of Tourism, took charge within hours of the transfer notification. In the last one year, Hassan district has seen five Deputy Commissioners. The notification mentioned that the transfer was ordered as per directions from the EC. The officer was instructed to report to the post immediately, without availing the joining time. Mr. Pasha has not been given an alternative posting. BJP MLA’s role? Mr. Pasha reported to his post in Hassan on February 22, after the earlier Deputy Commissioner Rohini Sindhuri was transferred. Within 40 days of taking charge, he has been transferred. However, the reasons for his transfer are not clear. It is said that within days after Mr. Pasha was transferred to Hassan, BJP MLA Preetham Gowda had written to the EC seeking his transfer. The MLA, in his letter, reportedly mentioned that the IAS officer had close relatives in Hassan and his posting to the district before elections would favour one particular party. Mr. Pasha’s wife is a native of Hassan. However, when the MLA was contacted to know if he had written to the EC, he refused to comment stating that it was a “confidential matter”. Saga of transfers The saga of transfers began with Ms. Sindhuri. Even before she could complete six months in the district, she was transferred in January 2018. Her transfer attracted wide criticism as leaders of the Congress, then in power, wanted her transfer. The then Minister in charge of the district A. Manju had allegedly put pressure on the government for her transfer. During her long legal battle challenging the transfer, D. Randeep and P.C. Jaffer worked as Deputy Commissioners for brief periods. Ms. Sindhuri returned to her post in June 2018, but she was transferred on February 22. Again, there were allegations that she was transferred because of her action against illegal sand extraction in the district. Now, Mr. Pasha has been transferred reportedly on the basis of a complaint by a political party, and Ms. Francis has taken charge as the fifth Deputy Commissioner in a year. Source: The Hindu