Jaipur: The state govt Saturday transferred 15 RAS officers and placed 10 under Awaiting Posting Orders (APO) in a reshuffle largely involving sub-divisional officers.The move comes ahead of the enforcement of the model code of conduct for Panchayati Raj elections which restricts transfers of election-related officials without State Election Commission’s approval.Most of the officers affected are serving as SDOs, ADMs and other field-level officials who are likely to have election-related responsibilities during the rural polls.Among those placed under APO is Lakshmikant Katara, commissioner of Alwar Municipal Corporation. His removal comes a day after forest minister Sanjay Sharma visited the corporation on Gandhi Jayanti. The minister had reportedly expressed displeasure over the absence of the mayor and commissioner during his visit and protocol-related arrangements.The govt has placed the following 10 officers under APO, asking them to mark their presence in the personnel department: Ajay Kumar Arya, ADM Jhunjhunu; Parsa Ram, ADM Jaisalmer; Hanuman Singh Rathore, CEO, zila parishad, Dungarpur; Lakshmikant Katara, commissioner, Alwar Municipal Corporation; Bhanwar Lal Janagal, ADM Baran; Mangi Lal, SDO Sawai Madhopur; Sunil Kumar Jhingoniya, SDO and deputy project officer, Sahariya development project, Shahbad (Baran); Priyanka Badguzar, SDO Mandawar (Dausa); Arun Kumar Jain, SDO Phuliyakalan (Bhilwara); Hemant Kumar Ghanghor, SDO and deputy project officer, Sahariya development project, Kishanganj (Baran).The order said the officers had been kept under APO “for administrative reasons” until further orders.The govt has also directed all officers covered by the reshuffle to be relieved from their existing posts and join their new assignments immediately, without availing joining time or leave. The heads of departments concerned and district collectors have been instructed to ensure that the officers join their new posts without waiting for a reliever.The order said the officers must send their joining reports immediately to the department of personnel. It also warned that failure to comply would invite disciplinary action.
