Karnataka: 80% of Mines Dept. officials transferred to ensure transparency, accountability
The Karnataka government has transferred 160 officials from the Mines and Geology Department to curb corruption and improve administrative transparency. Many of the transferred staff had been in their positions for over five years, leading to concerns about local monopolies.
Why it matters
Mass administrative transfers are a common tool used by governments to disrupt entrenched corruption and improve bureaucratic efficiency.
In a mass transfer exercise effected in the Mines and Geology Department on Monday, the Karnataka government transferred 131 geologists, 23 senior geologists, and six Deputy Directors, many of whom had been working in the same location for more than five years. The officials transferred — 160 in all — constituted 80% of the department’s workforce, a note said.
Some of these officials had remained in the same location for as long as 16 years, while a large number had been in their current posts for over six years, including several who had completed eight years and 10 years or more.
The issue was flagged by Department Secretary Rohini Sindhuri during a review meeting earlier this month, following which Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar cleared the transfers.
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