Deoria, UP: In a strong and unequivocal statement that has sparked widespread discussion, Deoria District Magistrate Divya Mittal, a 2013-batch IAS officer from the UP cadre, asserted during a District Planning Committee (Disha) meeting that no public representative – including ministers, MPs, or MLAs – has the authority to influence the transfer or posting of government officers. Her remarks, captured on video and now viral on social media, were met with applause from several attendees, including senior district officials.
“No public representative can force any officer for transfer. This is a government-level decision with clear rules.” – Divya Mittal, DM Deoria
Read Also: From Encroachment to Empowerment: The Story of IAS Divya Mittal’s Land Reclamation Initiative
Backdrop: Political Pressure Over Posting Dispute
The dispute began when Barhaj MLA Deepak Mishra requested BSA Shalini Srivastava to withhold the long-pending salary of a teacher and to transfer a contract worker. When the BSA ignored his demands, the MLA, frustrated, criticized the PWD and other officials over the issue of deteriorating roads and walked out of the meeting. Following this, another public representative remarked that officials should pay more attention to what elected representatives are saying. They added that if officials listened carefully and acted at the right time, many problems would be resolved automatically. Another representative also commented that if there are no procedural hurdles, the transfer should proceed.
In response, District Magistrate Divya Mittal took control of the situation and firmly rejected the statements made by the public representatives. She took a firm stand, reiterating that posting decisions are not to be politically influenced, as per official protocol.
Who Was in the Room?
The meeting was chaired by BJP MP Shashank Mani Tripathi and attended by prominent public figures including-
- Minister of State Vijaylakshmi Gautam (UP Government)
- BJP spokesperson & MLA Shalabh Mani Tripathi
- MLAs Surendra Chaurasia, Sabha Kunwar
- SP MP Ramashankar Rajbhar (Salempur)
- MLC Devendra Pratap Singh
- Senior officials from all major departments
Ms Mittal’s statement came after various public representatives criticized departmental officers for inaction, triggering a larger debate on the limits of political interference in bureaucratic affairs.
Applause from Officials, Viral on Social Media
Ms Mittal’s assertive response reportedly drew applause from officers present in the meeting, a moment that was captured on video and quickly went viral. The clip is being widely shared across social platforms with many users praising her firm stand on administrative independence and rule-based governance.
Who is IAS Divya Mittal?
Ms Mittal is known for her clarity, integrity, and efficient administrative approach.
Hometown: Rewari, Haryana
Education: B.Tech and MBA; worked in London before joining civil services
UPSC Journey: Cleared UPSC 2011, became IPS (Gujarat cadre), Reappeared in 2012, became IAS, allocated Uttar Pradesh cadre
Her husband Gagandeep Singh, a 2011-batch IAS officer, also encouraged her to pursue the UPSC path after he cleared the exam.
Why It Matters
The incident has renewed debate around the boundaries between political representatives and administrative officials, particularly in the context of transfer-posting culture in Indian bureaucracy. DM Mittal’s comments are being viewed as a rare public stand against undue political influence, setting a precedent for other officers navigating similar pressures.
