THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The proposal to immediately transfer five deputy tahsildars of the Kottarakkara taluk office following the detection of bribery and irregularities has not been implemented even after five months. The principal secretary of the revenue department had directed the district collector in July last year.

The proposal was to transfer the officers to low-density posts in other taluks of Kollam district. This negligence at the official level comes at a time when a vigorous effort is being made under the leadership of the minister to make the revenue department corruption-free. There are indications that the intervention at the organisational level is an obstacle to the action.

The vigilance and a special team had conducted an investigation based on a complaint that some officials were taking bribes in Kottarakkara taluk, where there are several quarries and sand smuggling is rampant. Based on the report of the revenue additional secretary, Tahsildar MK Ajikumar, deputy tahsildar (inspection) Anil Kumar V and Manoj T, who was working in the permanent post of driver, were suspended subject to an inquiry. Along with this, it was also recommended that five deputy tahsildars be transferred.

No further action was taken on suggestions such as subjecting the taluk office to constant monitoring by the revenue vigilance, settling the pending files by conducting an adalat and appointing a nodal officer for the purpose.