The office order issued by under-secretary DP Saini on October 26, has effected the transfer of SB Mathur, RD, western region, Mumbai, Samir Biswas, DII, Delhi, CD Paik, DII and UC Nahta, RD, eastern region, Calcutta immediately.

The sudden transfers are perplexing, sources say, as the four officers were only recently transferred and were in the process of settling down in their current postings.

Nahata (who is going in Paik's place) joined as RD, eastern region only on October 14, 1998. He was relieved as Registrar of Companies (RoC), Ahmedabad on October 12. Paik who was holding ad-hoc charge of the RoC in Calcutta joined as DII, Delhi on a regularised promotion. He began work in Delhi on August 31. Samir Viswas on promotion joined DII, Delhi in the last week ofAugust.

Mathur, who is the senior most amongst those who have been transferred, had formally taken over as RD, western region only on September 2. He was holding additional charge of RD, western region, since July 1998.

The transfers have reportedly created unrest in the RoC office as many officials view these to be demotivating and against the administrative interest.

"The officers were just settling down in the new postings when the DCA decided to switch their designations," sources said.

When contacted, a senior DCA official said that the transfers were "purely for administrative reasons" and that the government would not incur any major cost on the transfers. "The transfer charges incurred would be more only if the whole family of the officer moves to the new posting," he added.

According to sources, the government will have to incur transfer expenses ranging from Rs 30,000 to Rs 80,000 (per person), depending upon the size of the family of the officer who have been transferred.

Generally,outstation transfers are effected only after a gap of five years. Inter-city or inter-region transfers, however, can be made after three years.

The government also asks for preferences before transferring the officials although the final say in the transfers is vested with the government.

As regards the post of RD, western region, it was around three years that a regular appointment was made. After November 1995, the western region which comprises Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Goa have not had a permanent regional director.