This time I was transferred within months of joining: Ashok Khemka

Interview with IAS officer

Ashok Khemka is the man of the hour, with the media camping at his house after a major daily reported how the bureaucrat was transferred because he cancelled a mutation of 3.531 acres of land in Gurgaon which belonged to Robert Vadra, and which Vadra sold to DLF at Rs 58 crore to embark on his real estate journey. In an interaction with Business Standard, Khemka explained why he is speaking to the media and why he protested against his transfer as Haryana's Director-General of Land Consolidation and Land Records-cum-Inspector-General of Registration in writing. Edited excerpts:

Having cancelled the mutation, are you afraid the government might resort to witch hunting?
I am not afraid of anything. I am a spiritual man who believes in doing karma and being fearless. There is a bit of goodness in everyone and this goodness has made him take this decision (of cancelling the mutation). I am not afraid of even dying.

How many transfers have you had in your tenure?
I have had 40 transfers in 20 years of my service where I have handled 38 assignments. Though all transfers were not linked directly to me pointing irregularities but definitely a few of them could be.

You had not raised a voice against transfers earlier but this time you have written a letter to the Chief Secretary, pointing at the abrupt transfer.
By the IAS (Fixation of Cadre Strength), Regulations 2010, the rules allow me to work in a position for two years but this time I was transferred in a few months of my joining. Even in my last assignment, I was transferred in 50 days of my joining.

With regulations guaranteeing me a fixed tenure, all I am demanding is I should be given what I am guaranteed.