IAS Ashok Khemka Retires After 57 Transfers in 34-Year Career

NEWS CHARIOT:-IAS officer Ashok Khemka, known for his integrity and frequent transfers, retired on April 30 — coinciding with his 60th birthday. A 1991 Haryana-cadre officer, Khemka has been transferred 57 times in 34 years, earning a reputation as an honest but controversial figure within the Indian bureaucracy.

Born in Kolkata in 1965, Khemka holds a B.Tech from IIT Kharagpur, a PhD from TIFR, an MBA, and an LLB. Despite his impressive academic background, he was often posted in low-priority departments, rarely staying longer than six months in any position.

Currently serving as Additional Principal Secretary in Haryana’s Transport Department, Khemka had held the same post a decade earlier—but was removed just four months in. In a twist of fate, he retired from the very department where his tenure was previously cut short.

Khemka rose to national prominence in 2012 when he canceled a land mutation deal involving Robert Vadra—son-in-law of Sonia Gandhi—and real estate giant DLF. Alleging irregularities in the Gurugram land deal, Khemka’s action sparked a political firestorm, with the case still unresolved. Vadra was questioned again by the Enforcement Directorate as recently as April 15, 2025.

His crusade against corruption earned both praise and backlash. Despite governments changing in Haryana—from Congress to BJP—his transfers continued unabated. He was even shifted four times within the Archives Department, three times under BJP rule.

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