LUCKNOW – In a swift administrative crackdown, the Uttar Pradesh government has removed high-profile IAS officer Kinjal Singh from her position as Transport Commissioner. The move comes after a tumultuous seven-month tenure defined by internal friction, allegations of negligence, and a breakdown in departmental coordination.
The state government’s decision to transfer Singh is part of a broader reshuffle involving 40 IAS officers. Taking her place is Ashutosh Niranjan, an officer recently returned from central deputation, who now faces the task of stabilizing a department currently mired in controversy.
A Tenure Defined by Discord
While Singh’s appointment initially sparked hopes for reform, sources within the administration suggest her term was marked by “arbitrary conduct.” Reports indicate a persistent “war of letters” with the Education Department over school vehicle safety, while her own department lagged in critical tasks, such as uploading data to the Integrated School Vehicle Management Portal.
Key factors cited for her removal include:
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Strained Hierarchy: A visible lack of coordination with the Transport Minister and the Additional Chief Secretary.
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Shadow Governance: Allegations that a select group of “favoured” officers, particularly one Regional Transport Officer (RTO), held undue influence over her decision-making process.
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Negligence in Safety: A concerning rise in road fatalities, with Lucknow alone recording 128 deaths in January and February, amid what critics call a “laxity” in safety enforcement.
The “Touts” Controversy and Private Agency Favouritism
One of the most damaging allegations involves the summary dismissal of 320 private employees who handled Driving License (DL) operations. These workers, some with 15 years of service, were reportedly sacked under the label of “touts” without a formal inquiry. Despite repeated pleas for a hearing, their appeals were allegedly ignored.
Simultaneously, Singh faced scrutiny over her handling of private agencies—Focom, Rosmerta, and Silver Touch—responsible for DL printing. Despite complaints of employee exploitation and corruption reaching the Minister’s office, Singh is accused of suppressing inquiry reports submitted by District Magistrates from 25 different districts.
Impending Transfer Policy: The Final Straw?
Administrative circles suggest the timing of the removal is no coincidence. With a new state transfer policy on the horizon, there were growing fears that Singh’s perceived partiality toward certain officials would lead to a total breakdown in departmental morale.
The “favoured” RTO (Administration), who reportedly remained by Singh’s side “like a shadow,” is now expected to face strict scrutiny under the new leadership’s policy.
Looking Ahead
The appointment of Ashutosh Niranjan is seen as a “course correction” by the state government. The new Commissioner inherits a department struggling with:
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Public Safety: Reversing the upward trend in road accidents.
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Internal Morale: Restoring faith among subordinates who felt side-lined.
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Digital Compliance: Completing the backlog of vehicle data integration.
As Kinjal Singh moves to her new assignment, the transport department remains a focal point of discussion in the state’s power corridors, serving as a reminder that administrative success relies as much on cooperation as it does on authority.
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