Corruption surfaces in deputation of subordinate staff in Odisha Fire Service

BHUBANESWAR: Massive corruption and irregularities in the transfer and deputation of subordinate staff of the Odisha Fire Service wing has prompted the director general (fire and emergency service) Santosh Upadhyay to go for a course correction.


It was evident from Upadhyay’s letter, seen by TOI, to his colleagues in which he gave a rap to fire officers (FOs) and chief fire officers (CFOs) to immediately stop the unfair practice.

“According to the government’s 5T policy, transparency in all procedures in administration is essential. It has come to notice that many FOs and CFOs have developed specific affection for some sub-ordinates in the ranks of fireman, leading fireman, driver havildar, fireman driver and are deputing or attaching them to training institutions, range offices and CFO offices to further their hidden agenda which amounts to unfair practices,” Upadhyay wrote on Wednesday.

Sources said the FOs and CFOs received monetary gains from the subordinate staff for giving them transfers and postings of their choice.

Some FOs secretly issued verbal orders to section officers for sending the subordinate staff on deputation to places of their choice and kept them there for months illegally. The directorate has received several complaints and petitions from other staff. Some FOs kept selected persons in fire training institutions for years for their vested interest.

In view of the corrupt practices, Upadhyay issued a series of instructions to curb the menace. “It is hereby ordered that no fireman, leading fireman, driver havildar and fireman driver shall be posted in training institutions unless he has served minimum three years (36 months, excluding attachment or deputation to other offices) in Koraput, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Gajapati districts,” the letter stated, adding “They cannot be allowed to work at any fire training institution for more than three years”.

Upadhyay, quoting a home department order issued last year, wrote that the subordinate employees shall not be posted on any pretext in their home sub-divisions. He said nobody will be attached or deputed to range offices or CFO offices without the written orders of the directorate.

“This order is issued to stop the existing practice with a view to ensuring transparency and encouraging new staff to various skills in office management and training,” he wrote.

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