Long-serving IAS officer Ashok Khemka, who has been shifted a staggering 57 times during his career, is set to retire tomorrow.
A Shuffle Through a Century: The 57-Transfer Saga of Ashok Khemka
As senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka, famed for his integrity and dedicated anti-corruption stance, approaches retirement on Wednesday, we dive into his tumultuous career marked by an astounding 57 transfers. Known as the 'record-breaker' in the Haryana bureaucracy's ranks, Khemka will be remembered as the Additional Chief Secretary, Transport Department.
Hailing from Kolkata, born on April 30, 1965, Khemka holds an impressive educational portfolio. Armed with a BTech in Computer Science from IIT Kharagpur, a PhD in Computer Science from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, an MBA in Business Administration and Finance, and an LLB from Panjab University, he proved his mettle in academics as well.
In 2012, Khemka shot to national fame when he annulled a controversial land deal in Gurugram tied to Robert Vadra, Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law. This bold act underlined his unwavering commitment to his duties.
Transferred to the Transport Department in December 2024, his journey briefly saw him back in the department he was removed from nearly 10 years ago, with Anil Vij, the current Minister, in charge. The move comes amidst a series of transfers, with Khemka being shifted an average of every six months throughout his career.
In 2023, Khemka penned a letter to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, offering to tackle corruption head-on by spearheading the vigilance department. He cited his relentless pursuit of eradicating corruption and the lopsided work distribution within government departments, highlighting the inefficiency and lack of public interest it engendered.
In 2013, Khemka was transferred to the Archives department for the fourth time during the Congress' tenure, having served there thrice before – two of which were during the BJP-led government's tenure. His own account on Twitter reflects his experiences, with a poignant tweet after his promotions, reminiscing about the "straight trees being cut first," reflecting a sense of disparity.
Given his expertise, Khemka positions himself as a beacon of hope for effective governance, even as India's bureaucratic system faces complex challenges. His career mirrors the complications and pressures faced by those standing strong against corruption, leaving a lasting impression on the country's administrative landscape as he bids adieu to a remarkable career.
(This story has not been edited by our team and is published from a syndicated feed.)
- Ashok Khemka, renowned for his anti-corruption stance, persisted in his fight against corruption, offering to spearhead the vigilance department in a letter to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in 2023.
- Khemka's career, marked by 57 transfers, serves as a fundamental example of the challenges faced by those standing strong against corruption in India's bureaucratic system.
- In a tumultuous career spanning over four decades, Ashok Khemka, the record-breaker in Haryana bureaucracy's ranks, made headlines in 2012 for annulling a controversial land deal tied to Robert Vadra, highlighting his unwavering commitment to his duties.
- The policy-and-legislation and politics surrounding war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, and general-news have shaped Khemka's career, offering a unique insights into the intricacies of the Indian bureaucracy.
- Despite facing numerous mutations in his roles, Ashok Khemka, with his impressive educational background, positions himself as a beacon of hope for effective governance as he approaches retirement, leaving a lasting impact on the country's administrative landscape.
