Administrative officers in local units accused of resisting transfers ‘to protect lucrative ties’

Growing reports indicate that administrative officials in local bodies are resisting transfers in order to maintain positions that facilitate financial and operational ‘set-ups’ for illicit gains.

Local representatives claim that civil servants in some municipalities avoid transfers because of lucrative networks, commissions on construction projects and authority to negotiate social benefits.

Concerns have been raised about alleged personal gain relationships between these officers and suppliers. Some civil servants who have been serving in the same municipality for a long time establish extensive commission networks and take advantage of weaknesses within the local leadership, leading to frequent cases of corruption.

Anitakumari Yadav, Deputy Chairman of Samsi Rural Municipality, points out: “These civil servants are rarely on duty and when they do, it is only for a few hours. Complaints from local representatives are met with intimidation. “Even after transfers, they often return and this increases friction.”

Municipalities in Madhesh State are reportedly run by MPs and very few civil servants want to transfer there. For example, Administrative Officer Subodh Thakur was recently transferred to Gaushala Municipality after being transferred three times in five months. His return to former positions such as Hansapur was blocked by representatives on the grounds of alleged irregularities and past involvement in conflicts over budget control.

Thakur’s refusal to transfer despite multiple instructions from the Ministry of Federal Affairs points to the potential of civil servants to manipulate bureaucratic systems for their personal interests. In Hansapur and Kamala, officials protested Thakur’s reappointment over previous lapses and allegations of budget misuse.

Similarly, Administrative Officer Ganeshchandra Mishra persistently returned to his post despite many transfers since his appointment in Samsi Rural Municipality in December 2021. Local representatives claim he used his financial influence over the ministry and the courts to prevent relocation. Despite his attendance being marked as irregular, Mishra was allegedly working remotely from Janakpur and requested that attendance records be sent to him.

Yadav stated that even though the Ministry appointed Manoj Kumar Sah in August 2024, Mishra’s attempt to reinstate Samsi to a new post further increased his disappointment. The pushback against Mishra’s return highlights wider governance problems within local administrative bodies and calls into question the effectiveness of transfer policies amid deep-rooted corruption networks.