Govt orders freeze on transfers in EPFO

NEW DELHI: Finding something amiss in the recent transfers of regional PF commissioners, the government has barred central PF commissioner K K Jalan from ordering any transfers in Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). The government has also sought an explanation from Jalan for the transfers of regional commissioner ranking officers without a 'transfer policy'. The ministry of labour and employment has put on hold transfer of these six group 'A' officers, done by Jalan in third week of December 2014.

It is alleged that Jalan had ordered transfer of six officers, regional PF commissioners, as in-charge of various field offices in the last week of December 2014 even when annual general transfers were announced for February/March 2015. The officers had already served their tenure of 'sensitive posting' and were not eligible for a further field posting as per the CVC guidelines.

The government, while issuing a memo to Jalan on December 30, also directed him to submit his explanation for delay in formulating the transfer policy guidelines of EPFO officers. In pursuance of a Supreme Court judgment, several directions were issued by the cabinet secretary including framing of transfer guidelines for group A, B and C officers and placing the said guidelines/policies in public domain.

In March 2014, the ministry of labour had taken up with its autonomous organizations, including EPFO, for framing such policy with regard to their officers. The ministry also issued regular reminders in May, July, August and the first week of December 2014. The secretary (labour and employment) also issued a note on December 16, 2014 to all organizational heads under the ministry seeking report on "transfer policy" for all group A, B & C officers by December 19.

However, EPFO did not respond to the government despite conveying earlier in May 2014 that it had drafted the transfer policy and same was under examination. The policy was never sent to the government.

Sources say that irregularities in the six transfers done by Jalan were pointed out to the minister of state for labour and employment Bandaru Dattatreya, who immediately stopped the transfers and sought explanation from Jalan for delay in formulating the transfer policy.

The ministry told Jalan that no transfer of group A officers will be effected till the transfer policy of EPFO was submitted for approval.

When contacted by TOI, Jalan said, "The transfers have been put on hold as desired by the ministry and we have now sent the transfer policy to the government".

http://ift.tt/1xN0eN0 Provident Fund Organisation

Stay updated on the go with The Times of India’s mobile apps. Click here to download it for your device.