Karnataka health department transfers 5,676 officers, staffers in major anti-corruption move
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Bengaluru: In a sweeping move aimed at curbing corruption and boosting transparency, the Karnataka health department has transferred 5,676 officers and staff members across the state in accordance with the Karnataka Civil Services (Regulation of Transfer of Medical Officers and Other Staff) Rules, 2025.
According to a report by Deccan Herald, the department adopted a data-driven approach to the transfer process by categorising districts into critical and non-critical zones. Medical officers were evaluated on a points-based system, awarding two marks for each year of rural service and 1.5 marks for urban postings. Based on these scores, doctors were ranked. The ranks determined the priority order for them to choose the place of their liking.
The non-critical zones are more in number than the critical zones. After the first set of doctors chose non-critical zones, and the number of critical and non-critical zones reached parity, the remaining doctors were required to opt for positions in critical zones.
A grievance redressal committee has also been constituted to handle objections or appeals related to postings.
“There will be annual transfers in the same way as it helps clean up the system. My office was filled with people with recommendation letters from politicians and other influential persons, because people felt that was how the system works. Through this new method, all lobbying will end,” DH quoted Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao as saying.
To manage the scale of the operation, eight teams were deployed in each district to oversee the counselling process, which was held at district health offices. Remote staff were able to participate online, eliminating the need to travel to Bengaluru. The process was supported by specialised software displaying real-time vacancy data, with senior officials joining virtually via video conferencing.
Rao acknowledged the challenges involved, noting that the department had to consider the personal impact on families. "We had a lot of humanitarian challenges. We had to take into consideration how transfers affect officials' families," he said.
Due to some vacancies remaining unfilled in critical zones, a second round of counselling was conducted.
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Niqab incident: Nitish Kumar perhaps revealing his true colours, says J-K CM
Srinagar (PTI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday criticised his Bihar counterpart over the niqab incident and said that Nitish Kumar might be slowly revealing his true nature.
"Nitish Kumar, who was once considered a secular leader, may be slowly showing his true colours," Abdullah told reporters here on the sidelines of a function.
Abdullah said Kumar removing the face veil of a Muslim woman doctor was wrong and cannot be justified by any means.
"We have seen this kind of incident here several years ago. Have you forgotten how Mehbooba Mufti removed the burqa of a legitimate voter inside a polling station? That act was wrong, and this act (of Kumar) is also wrong.
"If the (Bihar) chief minister did not want to hand over the order to her (Muslim woman), they could have kept her aside. However, to humiliate her like this is totally wrong," the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said.
Kumar stirred a huge controversy after he removed the face veil of a Muslim woman at a function earlier this week.
