Dikhyaa Mohanty 
All public employees were cautioned by the Odisha government on Monday not to exercise undue influence on their assignments and transfers. On Monday, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja sent a letter to the district collectors and the secretaries of every government agency regarding this matter. In the letter, he claimed that Rule 23 of the Odisha Government Servants’ Conduct Rules, 1959, was broken by the government officials in question.
“It has come to the notice of the Government that some Government employees are attempting to influence their transfer and posting to different posts by exerting extraneous influence. This practice is a clear-cut violation of Rule 23 of the Odisha Government Servants’ Conduct Rules, 1959,” writes Ahuja in the letter.
As per the said rules, “No Government servant shall bring or attempt to bring any influence whether official or non-official to bear upon any authority to further his interests in respect of matters pertaining to his appointment under Government, promotion, pay and other service conditions.”
In addition, the Chief Secretary stated in his letter that government workers must keep the greatest standards of honesty and behavior, adhering to the values of justice and openness in all service-related situations. Ahuja went on to say that administrative necessities, merit consideration, and adherence to established processes typically influence government employee postings and transfers. He threatened to take severe disciplinary action against public servants who try to influence their superiors and go around the proper processes when it comes to their postings and transfers.
“All Government employees are, therefore, prohibited from exercising any form of influence, direct or indirect, to secure favourable transfers or postings. All the Secretaries of Departments and the District Collectors should ensure that these guidelines are effectively informed to all employees and henceforth all should desist from this practice,” instructed the Chief Secretary.
