Latest news with #Haryana-cadre
Indian Express
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Today in Politics: Justice Gavai to take oath as 52nd CJI
Justice B.R. Gavai will be sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Wednesday, becoming the first Buddhist to head the country's judiciary. President Droupadi Murmu will administer the oath of office to Justice Gavai, who succeeds outgoing CJI Sanjiv Khanna. The appointment was made by President Murmu under Article 124(2) of the Constitution, and the Ministry of Law and Justice subsequently issued a notification confirming the decision. Justice Gavai, currently the senior most judge of the Supreme Court, was elevated to the apex court on May 24, 2019. Over the past six years, Justice Gavai has been part of around 700 Benches and has adjudicated matters across a wide range of legal domains, including constitutional and administrative law, civil and criminal law, commercial disputes, arbitration, electricity, education, and environmental law. He has authored nearly 300 judgments, including those delivered by Constitution Benches, upholding the rule of law and protecting fundamental, human, and legal rights. Justice Gavai was appointed as a permanent judge of the Bombay High Court on November 12, 2005. During his tenure, he presided over a variety of assignments at the Principal Bench in Mumbai and at the benches in Nagpur, Aurangabad, and Panaji. SC may hear pleas against new EC appointment law The Supreme Court on Wednesday may hear a batch of pleas challenging the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (EC) under the 2023 law. A Bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and Ujjal Bhuyan fixed the date after advocate Prashant Bhushan urged the Bench to accord urgent hearing in the matter. On February 17, the government appointed EC Gyanesh Kumar as the next CEC. Kumar is the first CEC to be appointed under the new law and his term would run till January 26, 2029, days before the EC is expected to announce the schedule of the next Lok Sabha election. Vivek Joshi, a 1989-batch Haryana-cadre IAS officer, was appointed as an election commissioner. – With PTI inputs
Hindustan Times
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Won't allow single drop of extra water to flow to other state: Cong
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Thursday warned that the people of Punjab will not allow a single drop of extra water to flow to any other state. He asserted that Haryana has already received its rightful share and cannot demand more when Punjab itself is facing a severe shortage. Warring urged chief minister Bhagwant Mann to convene an emergency all-party meeting to formulate a united strategy to protect Punjab's water resources. He criticised AAP's planned protests as political theatrics, asking, 'when you are in power, why the need for dharnas?' and accused the AAP of staging drama instead of taking real action. He said that Punjab cannot be allowed to go dry while supplying extra water to other states, assuring full Congress support to the government in protecting the state's interests. Warring also accused AAP of having a secret understanding with the BJP, citing its crackdown on peacefully protesting farmers as evidence of hypocrisy. He warned the AAP against any compromise on Punjab's water rights. Clarifying the Congress stance, he said the party supports honouring past agreements and providing Haryana with its allocated share — but not a drop more. 'Punjab does not have enough water even for its own needs,' he said. Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa launched a scathing attack on the BJP, accusing it of betraying Punjab's farmers by siding with Haryana in the intensifying water dispute. With Punjab's reservoirs critically low and 76.5% of its groundwater blocks overexploited, he warned that Haryana's demand for 8,500 cusecs would devastate Punjab's agricultural base, which produces 185 lakh metric tonnes for India's food security. He demanded urgent steps to replenish Punjab's reservoirs and a transparent, data-driven resolution to the crisis. 'The BJP cannot silence Punjab's farmers. We will fight for every drop that rightfully belongs to our state,' Bajwa said. 'Attempt to rob Punjab of its water' Jalandhar: Punjab Congress MLAs — Pargat Singh from Jalandhar Cantonment and Sukhpal Singh Khaira from Bholath — also flayed the BJP and BBMB, accusing the Centre of making direct attempts to rob Punjab of its water. Addressing the press conference, Pargat Singh demanded the state government to bring white paper on the issue so that the issues could be brought in a comprehensive manner before public. Khaira said the transfer of Punjab-cadre officer Akashdeep Singh, director of water regulation, and his replacement with Haryana-cadre officer Sanjeev Kumar, raises serious questions about the impartiality of the BBMB.
Indian Express
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
As Ashok Khemka retires, a look at the legal troubles of the IAS officer in his fight against corruption
Ashok Khemka, the 1991-batch IAS officer with a reputation for uncovering corruption who was transferred 57 times, superannuated on April 30, 2025, after a 34-year career. His actions, particularly in the Gurugram district, relating to exposing alleged irregularities in high-profile land deals, led to significant legal and disciplinary repercussions, often seen as retaliatory measures. Here are five major legal cases against the Haryana-cadre officer: 1. Cancellation of Robert Vadra-DLF land deal mutation (2012) In October 2012, as Director-General of Land Consolidation and Land Records, Khemka cancelled the mutation of a 3.5-acre land deal in Shikohpur (now Sector 83), Gurugram, between Skylight Hospitality Pvt Ltd, linked to Robert Vadra, and DLF Universal Ltd. The land was purchased by Skylight for Rs 7.5 crore in February 2008 and sold to DLF for Rs 58 crore after the Congress-led Haryana government granted it a commercial colony licence. Khemka alleged the transaction was a 'sham', facilitated by political influence. The Haryana government filed a chargesheet in 2013, accusing Khemka of overstepping his authority and exercising power after his transfer, violating service norms. The state government also alleged that the officer had selectively targeted Vadra's deal, ignoring 2,500 similar mutations in Shikohpur from 1990 to 2012. Further, he had breached the All India Service Rules by publicly critiquing government policies in media interviews. Khemka defended his actions, denied selective targeting, and contended that his public statements were necessary to expose systemic corruption. The BJP -led Haryana government dropped the major penalty chargesheet in November 2015, facilitating Khemka's promotion to principal secretary. The money laundering case is being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), with Vadra questioned by the central agency earlier this month. The development triggered his transfer to the Archives Department, with no further legal action or trial since. 2. Probe into other Gurugram land deals linked to Vadra (2012) In 2012, Khemka also ordered the deputy commissioner of Gurgaon (now Gurugram) to investigate all properties registered by Vadra or his companies (Skylight Realty, Real Earth Estates, Blue Breeze Trading, Artex, and North India IT Parks) since January 1, 2005, for alleged under-valuation to evade taxes. This directive followed complaints from India Against Corruption and opposition leader Om Prakash Chautala. The then Congress-led Haryana government again accused Khemka of overreach, initiating a 'fishing inquiry' without specific evidence, and embarrassing the government through media leaks. The Justice Dhingra Commission formed by the BJP government in 2015 to investigate such land deals submitted a confidential report in 2016 that has been kept sealed and not acted upon. 3. Wazirabad land allotment allegations (2018) In 2018, one Surender Sharma filed an FIR at Kherki Daula police station, alleging that Vadra, Hooda, DLF, and others conspired to secure wrongful allotment of 350 acres in Wazirabad as part of a Rs 5,000-crore land scam. The state government initially questioned Khemka over why he didn't pursue the Wazirabad allegations during his 2012 tenure. Khemka said the allegations surfaced much later. An investigation in the case is ongoing. 4. Alleged defamation in Gurugram land deal public statements (2012-2013) Khemka's public statements and media interviews in 2012-2013, where he called the Vadra-DLF deal a 'sham' and alleged political favouritism in Gurugram's land licensing, led to a defamation complaint by a Congress leader in Haryana. The complaint was filed in a Gurugram court, accusing Khemka of tarnishing the reputation of the state government and Vadra. The officer refuted the allegations, saying conduct rules did not bar whistleblowing on illegal activities and that silencing him would protect vested interests. The case did not proceed to trial as the state dropped the chargesheet against him. 5. Gurugram land consolidation irregularities inquiry (2012) As Director General of Land Consolidation, Khemka initiated an inquiry in 2012 into broader irregularities in Gurugram's land consolidation process. He had flagged discrepancies in how agricultural land was reclassified for commercial use, benefiting developers. This led to a state government probe into his conduct. Khemka cited evidence of developers exploiting consolidation loopholes in Gurugram, inflating land values, and depriving farmers of fair compensation. He accused the government of shielding powerful real estate lobbies. The probe did not lead to a chargesheet or conviction. Khemka's transfer to the Archives Department in 2013 effectively stalled the matter.
India.com
30-04-2025
- Politics
- India.com
‘Most transferred IAS officer' of India who was transferred 57 times in 33 years, has finally retired, his name is...
Senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka, known for his uprightness during his nearly 34-year career, which saw 57 postings, will be superannuating on Wednesday, April 30. According to the news agency PTI, the 1991-batch officer will retire as Additional Chief Secretary, Transport Department. He was transferred and posted to his current job in December 2024. The Haryana-cadre IAS officer came to national limelight in 2012 when he cancelled the mutation of a Gurugram land deal linked to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law, Robert Vadra. A mutation is part of the process to transfer ownership of a piece of land. IAS officer Ashok Khemka was born on April 30, 1965, in Kolkata. Speaking of his educational qualification, Khemka earned a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science and Engineering from IIT Kharagpur in 1988, followed by a PhD in Computer Science from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and an MBA specialising in Business Administration and Finance. While in service, Khemka also completed his LLB from Panjab University. With a record 57 transfers in his career—likely the most in the state's bureaucracy—Ashok Khemka returned to the transport department last December. The department is currently overseen by Minister Anil Vij. This return comes nearly a decade after Khemka was transferred out of his role as transport commissioner during the first term of the BJP government led by Manohar Lal Khattar. Khemka is known as the most transferred IAS officer in the country, with over 55 recorded transfers in his career spanning three decades. At the time of his removal, Khemka had been in the transport department for only four months. Earlier in 2023, Ashok Khemka wrote to Khattar and offered to 'root out corruption' with a stint in the vigilance department. Furthermore, he stated he had sacrificed his service career in his zeal to end corruption. According to news agency PTI, there is not enough work in his present posting — the Archives department (the department he then handled) — some officers are overloaded with multiple charges and departments, due to which they are always firefighting, he had then pointed out. In the letter dated January 23, 2023, Khemka added, 'Lopsided distribution of work does not serve public interest.' 'Towards the end of my service career, I offer my services to head the vigilance department to root out corruption. The IAS Officer wrote, 'If given an opportunity, I assure you there would be a real war against corruption and no one however high and mighty will be spared.' After a round of promotions over two years back, Khemka tweeted: 'Congratulations to my batchmates newly appointed as Secretaries to GOI! While this is an occasion for merry, it brings equal measure of despondency for one's own self having been left behind. Straight trees are always cut first. No regrets. With renewed resolve, I shall persist.' Congratulations to my batchmates newly appointed as Secretaries to GOI! While this is an occasion for merry, it brings equal measure of despondency for one's own self having been left behind. Straight trees are always cut first. No regrets. With renewed resolve, I shall persist. — Ashok Khemka (@AshokKhemka_IAS) October 19, 2022 For over 12 years, Ashok Khemka has mostly served in departments considered 'low profile.' Throughout his career, he has been transferred approximately every six months on average. Previously, Khemka was assigned to the Archives department for the fourth time — with three of those postings occurring during the BJP-led government's tenure. He earlier served as the director general and later the principal secretary of the Archives department. He was first transferred to the department in 2013 when the Congress was in power. It is stated that Ashok Khemka has been transferred 57 times in 33 years. (With PTI Inputs)
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Who is Ashok Khemka? IAS officer who cancelled Robert Vadra land deal mutation in 2012 to retire after 57 transfers in 34 years of service
NEW DELHI: Senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka , whose name became synonymous with bureaucratic integrity and political friction, is set to retire this week from his post as additional chief secretary in Haryana's Transport Department. Known as much for his honesty as for the 57 transfers he endured in 34 years of service, the 1991-batch Haryana-cadre officer bows out with a reputation few civil servants can claim—one built on defiance in the face of political pressure . You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi Khemka's final posting came in December 2024. As he prepares to formally exit government service on Wednesday, his career remains defined by a single explosive episode from over a decade ago: the 2012 cancellation of a Gurugram land deal involving Robert Vadra , son-in-law of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, and realty giant DLF. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo The flashpoint that shaped a career In October 2012, Khemka—then posted as Director General, Consolidation of Land Holdings—was suddenly transferred. But before relinquishing charge, he issued an order cancelling the mutation of a 3.5-acre land deal between Vadra's firm and DLF in Gurugram. The move questioned the legality of the transaction and disrupted powerful interests. The backlash was swift. Allegations flew that Khemka had overstepped his jurisdiction, failed to provide the affected parties a hearing, and even deliberately stayed in office four days after his transfer to pass the controversial order. The government accused him of violating multiple All India Service Rules and faulted him for going public with criticism of government policies—charges Khemka defended in a detailed letter to the chief secretary at the time. Within a day of his transfer, Khemka had also ordered deputy commissioners across four districts—Gurgaon, Palwal, Faridabad, and Mewat—to examine whether stamp duty had been paid properly in land deals linked to Vadra's firm. The government called the move "selective" and disproportionate, claiming thousands of land transactions had occurred between 2005 and 2012, but Khemka zeroed in on just one. The price of whistleblowing? What followed was a barrage of transfers and departmental actions that seemed designed to isolate the officer. In the months after the Vadra-DLF episode, Khemka was moved to the Haryana Seed Development Corporation (HSDC). There, too, he raised red flags—this time over irregular fungicide procurement for wheat seed treatment. That exposure prompted another transfer, to the archives department in 2013. Then came the inquiries. Between September and November 2013, the Haryana government slapped him with multiple charge sheets: one for cancelling the mutation, another for low seed sales at HSDC, and others based on complaints related to procurement of moong, weedicides, and even roofing sheets. In some cases, Khemka's name didn't even appear in the original complaint—but his presence in the system made him the focus of investigation. Even a four-year-old employee promotion issue was revived against him. Each time, Khemka responded with documents, explanations, and denials. And each time, the state found new grounds to question him.
