Gurugram: Ashok Khemka, a 1991-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Haryana cadre known for his unwavering stand against corruption and 57 different postings in his career due to frequent transfers, retires Wednesday after serving for 33 years.
Khemka in his over three-decade career earned a reputation as one of India’s most transferred civil servants—averaging a transfer every 7 months. The shift in postings often came in the wake of his efforts to expose alleged irregularities in the departments he served and the resultant friction with political and bureaucratic establishments.
Between 2004 and 2014, under the Congress government led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda in Haryana, he was transferred more than 21 times.
The pace continued under the BJP-led government under Manohar Lal Khattar from 2014 onwards, with seven transfers in the first five years alone.
Khemka was often sent to state departments perceived as low-profile, such as archives, archaeology, printing and stationery, prompting him to voice concerns about being sidelined.
In a 2019 post on X, Khemka lamented that the “reward for honesty is humiliation”, following his 53rd transfer to the archaeology and museums department.
In January 2023, after his 55th transfer to the archives department, he wrote “archived again” on X, and also wrote to then Haryana chief secretary, highlighting that his workload in the science and technology department was “not more than 2-3 hours per week”.
He argued that an officer of his rank deserved a workload of at least 40 hours a week, suggesting that his assignments were deliberately inconsequential.
In October 2022, when the Haryana government ignored his claim while promoting others to the secretary-rank, Khemka posted a despondent message on social media.
“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,” he wrote on X.
Khemka’s most recent transfer, his 57th, was in December 2024, when he was appointed Additional Chief Secretary of the transport department, relieving Indian Police Service officer Navdeep Virk.
This posting, considered significant, came just four months before his retirement and marked his return to the department after a decade.
Who is Ashok Khemka?
Born on 30 April, 1965, in Kolkata, West Bengal, Khemka hails from a humble background. His father, Shankarlal Khemka, worked as an accountant in a jute mill.
Khemka’s academic journey is distinguished, reflecting his intellectual prowess. A mathematics graduate from Delhi University’s St Stephen’s College, he went on to earn a B.Tech degree in computer science and engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Kharagpur in 1988.
He further pursued PhD studies in computer science from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai.
Khemka then earned an MBA degree specialising in business administration and finance and an MA degree in economics from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), as well as a Bachelor of Law degree from Panjab University, pursued from 2016 to 2019, all during his service.
Khemka shot to national prominence in 2012 when, as director general of Haryana’s land consolidation and holdings department, he cancelled the mutation of a 3.5-acre land deal between Skylight Hospitality—a company linked to former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra—and the realty major DLF in Gurugram’s Manesar-Shikohpur.
After he questioned the deal, Khemka was swiftly transferred. He later claimed the transfer was intended to punish him for exposing corruption.
Though subsequent government committees cleared Vadra of wrongdoing, Khemka maintained his stand, which is explained well in a book titled Just Transferred: The Untold Story of Ashok Khemka, published in March 2020.
The book by journalists Bhavdeep Kang and Namita Kala chronicles the journey of Khemka, who had faced 53 transfers in 27 years by then, and his refusal to compromise on his integrity.
“Catapulted into national attention in 2012 after he cancelled a controversial land deal involving Robert Vadra and DLF, Khemka has consistently challenged political interference and systemic corruption. Despite being sidelined, charge-sheeted, and denied central postings, his unwavering honesty has made him a symbol of bureaucratic courage. This book offers a compelling insider’s view of the Indian administrative system through the story of a man who chose principle over position,” the authors said about the book.
In 2013, while serving as Managing Director of Haryana Seeds Development Corporation, Khemka exposed alleged irregularities in the purchase of fungicides and seeds, leading to another transfer. His actions reportedly saved the state exchequer several crores of rupees.
During his brief tenure at the Haryana Staff Selection Commission, Khemka flagged potential irregularities in recruitment processes, which resulted in another transfer.
After the Modi government came to power at the Centre in 2014, it was reported that Khemka may be deputed to the Prime Minister’s Office. However, this did not materialise.
Contributions
Despite frequent transfers, Khemka made significant contributions to administrative reforms. He pioneered the computerisation of land records in Haryana and implemented several e-governance initiatives that improved transparency in public service delivery.
While serving in the transport department, he introduced technology-driven reforms that reduced corruption in vehicle registrations and licensing.
His stint in the social justice department saw the implementation of direct benefit transfers for pension schemes that eliminated middlemen and ensured benefits reached eligible beneficiaries.
Over the years, Khemka has received widespread public support and recognition from civil society organisations for his integrity. Several Right to Information (RTI) activists and anti-corruption groups have rallied behind him during challenging times in his career.
Despite facing departmental inquiries and what many observers described as “harassment”, Khemka remained steadfast in his approach to governance.
His career trajectory sparked political debates as well. Opposition parties in Haryana have frequently cited his transfers as evidence of the ruling government’s “intolerance” towards honest officers. Successive governments, regardless of ideological affiliation, transferred him frequently.
In rare public statements and through his social media presence, Khemka has occasionally shared reflections on India’s bureaucratic system.
He has advocated for fixed tenures for civil servants and greater autonomy for the bureaucracy to function without political interference.
His retirement marks the end of a controversial yet principled career that underscores the complexities of bureaucracy in India.
In January 2023, he had written to then Haryana chief minister Khattar, offering to head the vigilance department to “root out corruption”.
“Corruption is all-pervasive. When I see corruption, it hurts my soul. In my zeal to root out the cancer, I have sacrificed my service career,” he stated.
“If given an opportunity, I assure you there would be real war against corruption and no one however high and mighty will be spared,” Khemka asserted.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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