Is The Shinde Sarkar Against Women Officers?

Yesterday, I came across a WhatsApp forward mentioning that, following the cases of V. Radha and Deepa Mudhol-Mundhe, it appears that yet another senior IAS officer—namely, I. A. Kundan—is now facing a transfer before completing her tenure. This trend of prematurely transferring officers is becoming increasingly concerning.

From what I have gathered, the root of the issue seems to lie with Minister Deepak Kesarkar, under whose department IAS Officer I. A. Kundan is currently serving. Reports suggest that the minister has grown increasingly dissatisfied with her approach to the job. Kundan has reportedly refused to comply with a series of instructions from Kesarkar, which she deemed irrelevant and unnecessary. These directives, however, are being aggressively pushed by the Minister, likely due to the pressure of the upcoming elections.

Senior IAS Officer I.A. Kundan assumed this position just four months ago, following her transfer from a position under Minister Abdul Sattar. I couldn’t help but feel relieved and thankful that she emerged from that situation unscathed, without any controversy or label attached to her. After all, Minister Abdul Sattar is known to be a difficult person to work with, and she would likely have faced some challenges.

Is the Shinde government’s claim of being women-centric and prioritising women’s empowerment just a façade? While it may project an image of supporting women, the reality within the bureaucracy seems to tell a different story. If female officers in the government are not being heard, or worse, are being pressured by their ministers to sign off on questionable files, how can such a system function effectively? No woman officer with a sense of integrity would compromise her principles under such circumstances, especially in these challenging times.

We might as well set aside the ‘Ladki Bahin Yojna’—the scheme intended to provide financial support to women—if we cannot ensure stability and security for the women already serving in our bureaucracy. While it is understandable that some officers may be reluctant to sign documents without a justification, why should capable officers who are committed to development, like Officer I. A. Kundan, be treated poorly?

This is far from an isolated incident. Just 15 days ago, a similar situation unfolded involving Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik. She found herself under immense pressure, primarily driven by intense media scrutiny that essentially ‘transferred her out’ of her position as Chief Secretary. The situation escalated to the point where the Prime Minister himself had to step in and publicly commend Saunik in his speeches. This public acknowledgement signalled that any official attempt to remove Saunik from her post would not go unnoticed, especially in Delhi’s political circles.

There is an urgent need to investigate and ensure that abrupt transfers of IAS officers are thoroughly examined and justified. I would recommend that Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik take the lead in forming a panel and include a few senior politicians, such as Devendra Fadnavis. This panel should conduct a detailed inquiry into the reasons behind the sudden transfers of all IAS officers, especially when they haven’t completed their full tenure. Such a report would provide transparency in the decision-making process, ensuring that any future transfers are fully justified and not influenced by external pressures. It’s crucial to keep the process fair and impartial to maintain the integrity of the system.

(The writer is a journalist based in Mumbai. Views personal.)