PANAJI
Over eight months after IAS officer Sanjith Rodrigues was transferred to Ladakh and yet continued service in Goa, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has relieved him from the Goa government with immediate effect and warned of disciplinary action and debarment from promotion if he fails to comply with the order.
Rodrigues, a 2013-batch AGMUT cadre officer, was transferred to Ladakh on September 12, 2024. However, he continued to serve in Goa, reportedly due to ongoing responsibilities under the Smart City Mission.
In a fresh directive issued on May 16, along with a separate transfer order of IAS and IPS officers of the AGMUT cadre, the MHA invoked the 2016 guidelines that mandate officers under transfer to join their new posting within 15 days of the order.
“Sanjith Rodrigues, IAS (AGMUT 2013) shall ‘stand relieved’ from the Government of Goa with effect from the date of issuance of this order and is directed to join his new place of posting, UT of Ladakh, immediately under intimation to this Ministry. Should non-compliance of the transfer order persist, Rodrigues shall be liable to incur various consequences under the service rules, including disciplinary action, debarment from promotion, etc,” the order reads.
A copy of the order in possession of The Goan is also submitted to the Chief Secretaries of Goa and Ladakh, besides the officer himself.
The MHA has categorically stated that all requests seeking cancellation or deferment of the transfer order have been rejected. “...all requests for cancellation of the transfer order or keeping the transfer order in abeyance have been rejected and no further request or representation shall be entertained,” it said.
The order further cited Para 9(viii) of the Guidelines for Transfer/Posting of IAS/IPS officers of AGMUT cadre, 2016, which stipulates that officers under transfer shall be relieved to join their new segment within 15 days from the effective date of transfer. Failure to comply invites action under service rules such as stoppage of salary, issuance of displeasure, debarment from promotion and debarment from central deputation.
On November 26, 2024, The Goan had reported that Rodrigues, Prasad Lolayekar and Swetika Sachan, who were transferred to Ladakh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Delhi, respectively, had not yet moved to their new postings and continued to serve in the Goa administration.
Rodrigues currently holds the post of Managing Director and CEO of Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd (IPSCDL). Lolayekar is the Education Secretary while Sachan heads the Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board as CEO.
Sources had earlier indicated that while Rodrigues was retained due to incomplete projects under the Smart City Mission, Lolayekar was reportedly kept back for the phase-wise rollout of the National Education Policy in the State.
