It was in the year 1984 that I landed a decent job in an organisation having pan-India network of branches. Braving frequent transfers, I served in the states of UP, Punjab, Haryana, J&K, Himachal Pradesh, and UT of Chandigarh during the entire length of my service till 2019.
Transfers to rural/semi-urban centres and postings in operational assignments for prescribed periods were part of eligibility criteria for promotions at different stages. Premature transfers were therefore effected owing to administrative compulsions of exposing an officer to all the mandatory postings/ assignments at the right juncture. There were other grounds also, ranging from promotion to non-performance, for curtailing the maximum stay of five years usually allowed at a centre in one posting.
During a particular phase in my career, I was subjected to many changes of assignments within a short span due to administrative exigencies. Frequent shifting was however viewed with suspicion by the interview committee at the time of promotion. A member of the interview committee, while scrutinising my biodata, asked me as to why I was frequently moved from one assignment to another during the last five years. Not convinced with my genuine alibi ascribing continual short stays to administrative factors rather than non-performance, the member quipped sarcastically that “rolling stone gathers no moss”. I was not promoted as the mind of committee had apparently been prejudiced.
Another tale begins with my posting as Branch Head of the main branch in a state capital. As per the prevailing practice, there was an incumbency board displayed on a wall. Glancing at the board, I was utterly surprised to see that all the five incumbents, immediately preceding me, had a stay of less than 1 year in the branch. Baffled, I tried in vain to unravel the mystery from the clueless branch staff.
I wondered whether I would also be removed before one year. I shared my scepticism, in a lighter vein, with my colleagues also. Within a couple of months, I was well settled in the branch as well as in the city. I started enjoying both my work and the leisure.
Just as I was very close to breaching the 1-year jinx, an incident occurred in the branch due to inter-personal conflict between two staff members. Complaints were filed with the police by both the sides against each other, giving a bad press to the organisation. Making me the scapegoat, the rattled management issued orders for my transfer. It appeared that I would not be able to buck the trend of less than 1 year stay. However, as my successor’s name was announced a bit later, my relieving got delayed to the extent that I achieved the honour of surpassing 1-year line. Mitigating the impression of an unceremonious transfer, the new place of posting turned out to be my hometown – a befitting compensation for my innocence.
The culture of frequent transfers does not serve the interests either of the officer or of the organisation.
