Mumbai: BMC received recommendation letters for the transfer or promotion of as many as 225 officials and employees over the past year. The recommendations were made by Union ministers, state cabinet ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs and corporators cutting across party lines, as mentioned against respective names on the list. This information was obtained by activist Anil Galgali from the office of BMC city engineer in reply to a query filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.According to Galgali, a preliminary analysis of the political names mentioned against the 225 officials and employees showed that the names of certain political leaders appear repeatedly.Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde’s name appears 10 times, followed by Union minister of state Ramdas Athawale, whose name appears nine times. The names of state ministers Girish Mahajan and Kalidas Kolambkar appear seven times each.Similarly, the names of Shiv Sena MLA Mangesh Kudalkar, Deputy Speaker in Legislative Assembly Anna Bansode and Shiv Sena MLA Tukaram Kate appear six times each. The names of BJP MLA Murji Patel and Shiv Sena MLA Dilip Lande appear five times each.The names of NCP minister Narahari Zirwal, BJP MLA Sumit Wankhede, Shiv Sena leader Rahul Shewale, Shiv Sena MLA Prakash Surve, NCP minister of state Indranil Naik, Shiv Sena MLA Santosh Bangar, BJP MLAs Ram Kadam and Kishan Kathore, and MLC Bachchu Kadu appear four times each.Further, the names of BJP minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, NCP minister Hasan Mushrif, Shiv Sena ministers Bharatseth Gogawale and Uday Samant, BJP MLA Parinay Fuke, Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Waikar,BJP MLCs Prasad Lad and Pravin Darekar, and Shiv Sena (UBT) MLAs Sunil Prabhu and Mahesh Sawant appear three times each.The names of Shiv Sena Union minister of state Prataprao Jadhav, BJP state ministers Pankaja Munde, Mangal Prabhat Lodha and Jaykumar Gore, MP Raosaheb Danve, Shiv Sena Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar and NCP MLA Sana Malik appear two times each. The names of BJP state president Ravindra Chavan, BJP state minister Chandrakant Patil and NCP state minister Sanjay Bansode appear once each.Galgali said, “Transfers in the municipal corporation are expected to be carried out on the basis of administrative requirements, seniority and transparent criteria. However, a list containing the names of ministers, MLAs, MPs and public representatives against the names of 225 officers and employees has now come to light. The list includes officers and employees holding the posts of assistant engineer (AE), sub engineer (SE), executive engineer (EE) and junior engineer (JE).”Galgali further stated that disciplinary action is expected to be taken in accordance with the existing rules. “Therefore, a thorough investigation should be conducted immediately. If any unauthorised interference, pressure or irregular process is found in the transfer process, appropriate action should be taken against the concerned officers and employees as per the provisions of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888.”Ganesh Khankar, BJP leader of the House in BMC, said most of these recommendations were made on humanitarian grounds.“I have personally recommended the transfer of an official whose father was ailing and he wanted a posting near his residence. In another instance, one lady official sought a transfer to a post closer to her home, as she was a single mother and had to take care of her young children. In both cases, how could anybody refuse their request? Besides, there is pressure on the local public representatives for recommendations from local citizens and party workers. Most have genuine problems; therefore, they are seeking recommendations for transfer.”According to Shiv Sena BMC Group Leader Amey Ghole, recommendations have been given by representatives of all parties across the spectrum and are not restricted to one party alone.“These officials and employees have various problems. Some have health issues and some cannot travel for long distances, so they seek recommendation for a transfer. These engineers approach their local MLA, sometimes in their native place. Besides, party workers too come with requests.”
