About Ashok Khemka - IAS Officer Who Transferred 57 Times In 34 Years (image:x.com/vel_asthraa)

Ashok Khemka, senior civil service officer known for his stiff anti-corruption stance and bureaucratic uprightness superannuated on Wednesday (April 30). In his long 34-year career, marked by 57 transfers, Khemka was among the most transferred IAS officers in Haryana.

The 1991-batch Haryana-cadre IAS officer, he caught national attention for exposing alleged irregularities in high-profile land deals. One noteworthy incident is the 2012 cancellation of a Gurugram land deal involving Robert Vadra.

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While serving as the Director-General of Land Consolidation and Land Records, Khemka cancelled the mutation of a 3.5-acre land deal in Shikohpur (now Sector 83), connected to Vadra, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law, and DLF Universal Ltd.

However, his actions invited criticism and backlashes. There were allegations that he had overstepped his jurisdiction, exerting power after his transfer, violating several All India Service Rules. Though Khemka defended his actions, it was followed with a slew of transfers and departmental actions. After land deal episode, he was transferred to the Haryana Seed Development Corporation (HSDC).

While serving in the Corporation, he exposed irregular fungicide procurement for wheat seed treatment which resulted in another transfer, to the archives department in 2013. Khemka’s career then became synonymous with frequent transfers and inquiries. His latest posting before retirement brought him back to the transport department, nearly a decade after his outing in the same role. Over the past 12 years, Khemka has majorly served in departments considered less important.

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On the day of his retirement, Khemka wrote on X: “Today I complete my IAS career. Thanks to my family, colleagues and all well-wishers, without whose unflinching support this journey would not have been possible. I apologise if during this journey I rubbed anyone the wrong way.”