With several OAS officers overstaying in one post, will there be a spate of transfers?

Many OAS officers have been occupying different posts at the Lok Seva Bhawan (State Secretariat) for years. It is alleged that many officials were directly involved in the affairs of party activities. Now, questions have been raised about whether the concerned officials were occupying the positions on the basis of talent or sycophancy? Meanwhile, speculations about the fate of these officials are gaining traction after the formation of the new government in the State.

As per reports, many officials have been occupying various positions in Lok Seva Bhawan for more than 10 years. Forget about transfer, their departments have not even changed for many years. During BJD’s tenure, it is alleged that some non-Odia officials were not only powerful but also they were functioning as per the directions of the ruling party. 

Rabi Sethi, who is the husband of former BJD MP from Jajpur- Sarmistha Sethi, is allegedly on the list of the officials. He was earlier appointed as the personal secretary of a minister and later instated as the personal secretary of the Deputy Speaker. He was then transferred as OSD to Chief Minister’s office (CMO) in November 2023. However, he was unofficially working at Naveen Niwas and CMO in 2016. It has been alleged that Sethi was involved in various affairs of the BJD.

Similarly, it is learned that Aditya Mohapatra, who was working as the Additional Secretary of the Chief Minister for the last five years, is allegedly skipping the third floor and sitting in the General Administration Department without giving notification after the 2024 General Elections. Nivedita Prusty is another powerful OAS officer at Lok Seva Bhawan. She has been occupying the Joint Secretary post of the Housing Department for the last six years. Earlier, she worked in the Higher Education Department for many years. Sangramjit Nayak, who has been promoted from OAS cadre to an IAS officer, took retirement after working in the Urban Development Department for 14 long years. Moreover, he got an extension of four years following his superannuation. Another OAS officer Sarada Prasad Panda has been working in the same department for the last 14 years. Even after his retirement, he is still working in the department for the last six months.

“An OAS officer named Rabindra Sethi didn’t allow me to meet the Chief Minister. Though I put up a strong protest demanding a meeting with our party president, I was not allowed,” rued former BJD MP Prabhas Singh.

Moreover, two OAS officials- Kulamani Mishra and Swayamprabha Mohanty have been working in the Panchayatiraj Department for 11 and 12 years respectively. Similarly, OAS officer Subhananda Mohapatra has been working in the Health Department for the last 10 years. Additional Secretary Santanu Sahoo has been in the Finance Department for the last nine years. Kuna Barik is working as the Additional Secretary in the Parliamentary Affairs Department for the last 20 years. After working for 12 years in the Housing Department, Additional Secretary Prafulla Pradhan has got a one-year extension after his retirement.

Similarly, the Additional Secretary of the General Administration Department Ganesh Patra has also got a one-year extension after working for 13 years in the department. Abhaya Nayak, who retired after working 15 years in the Revenue Department, is still working for the last two years. Joint Secretary Ellora Samal has been working as the Joint Secretary of the Revenue Department for the last 10 years. Similarly, Manas Samal has been working as the Land Officer of the General Administration Department for the last three years.

What analysts say?
 
As per the government guidelines, an OAS officer should get transferred in three years. However, questions are being raised about the intention of the previous government pertaining to the fact that so many officials have occupied the same posts for so many years.

“As per the government guideline, the OAS officers should get transferred every three years. However, they have been clinging to their chairs with some ulterior motive,” said former Chief Secretary Sahadev Sahoo.

“There are doubts over the intention of the earlier government to keep many officers in important positions for many years. They collect money from different sources by arm-twisting methods and provide it to the ruling party. They were involved in many heinous activities during the tenure of the earlier government. The current government should take steps against this practice,” said senior journalist Akshaya Sahoo.

Now, speculation is doing the rounds that there will be a complete overhaul in the administration and some IPS and OAS officials will be transferred from Lok Seva Bhawan after Chief Minister Mohan Majhi returns from Delhi.

No comments were received from the concerned officials.