Uttarakhand: Minister Prem Chand Aggarwal transfers 74 officials, CM puts order on hold

DEHRADUN: Before leaving for Germany on a study tour, urban development minister Prem Chand Aggarwal made 74 transfers in his department.

The transfers were made for different posts, including revenue superintendents and executive engineers, in Nagar Nigams and Nagar Palikas. However, within 24 hours, the chief minister's office put all these transfers on hold.

Recently, Aggarwal -- who was the assembly speaker from 2017 to 2022 -- was in the thick of controversy over 73 ad-hoc appointments made in the assembly. No reason has been put forth for the sudden transfers and why they were reversed.

The 74 transfers made by the minister include some in the Haridwar district as well. Currently, panchayat polls are underway in Haridwar, and the model code of conduct is in effect. Sources said the decision might have been held because of the polls as it could lead to a violation of the code of conduct.

The list has the names of several employees of the Kumaon range. Some objections were also raised in the matter, said sources.

After making the transfers on Sunday, Aggarwal left for Germany for a study tour. On the same day, the chief minister's office put the transfers on hold. Authorities have remained tight-lipped over the issue. Aggarwal is expected to return on September 25.

Opposition Congress had raised questions over the 73 ad-hoc appointments made in the state assembly in the tenure of Aggarwal as speaker of the House. The Congress alleged that the list of appointed people included those related to prominent BJP members.

Following the allegations, assembly speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan formed a three-member expert committee to probe the matter and asked them to hand over the report within a month.