Register · No. 28
Raju Narayana Swamy
IAS, Kerala cadre, 1991 batch, Serving
24transfers, as of Oct 2012; reports range from 24 to 32. 10 on the ribbon below, 10 of them documented.
- Documented
- One report
- Years with no move on record
Summary
Raju Narayanaswamy, a 1991-batch Kerala IAS officer who topped the civil services exam, has been moved repeatedly by governments of both fronts. TOI counted 24 transfers in 20 years in October 2012; other counts differ (20 in 22 years, BiharPrabha 2013; over 30, TNM 2023; 32 in 34 years, Moneycontrol). Documented clashes include raids on liquor contractors in Thrissur, the 2000 Marketfed compulsory leave, the 2007 Munnar drive that helped bring down Minister T. U. Kuruvilla before the team was disbanded, the 2009 Education Department row with Minister M. A. Baby, and his 2019 removal from the Coconut Development Board. The state's side, upheld by the Supreme Court in 2025 on promotion, points to poor ratings, a year's unauthorised absence and indiscipline; pre-2016 adverse entries 'do not relate to dishonesty'.
The 24-in-20 figure has one source (TOI). The only other dated count from that period, BiharPrabha (Aug 2013, a small outlet), says 20 in 22, which contradicts it. The later counts (30+ by 2023, 32 in 34) agree with each other and fit a trajectory of roughly 24 by 2012. Treat 24 (2012) as single-sourced; use 'over 30 (TNM 2023)' as the best-sourced current figure. RTI TODO filed.
On the record
Only those with a godfather can survive in the service.
Swamy has already been transferred 24 times in his 20-year career.
Individual excellence may sometimes lead to superiority complex and hinder commitment to discipline, decorum and collegiality.
The moves, and what came of them
Oldest first. Each fold is marked by how well the record holds it.
Documented
District Collector, ThrissurCommissioner, Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments
As Thrissur Collector he ordered raids on the homes of some liquor contractors and, per Rediff, 'was immediately relieved from the post', then given what Rediff called 'an insignificant assignment'. He also widened Thrissur's Pattalam road by demolishing unauthorised buildings and refused a developer permission to fill a paddy field. The year is not given; it was before April 2000.
- Up against
- Liquor contractors (unnamed)
- Reported reason
- Per Rediff, the raids.
- The officer said
- (On the road-widening) "Even today, I feel a sense of pride when I travel along that way." (NIE 2010)
- The other side said
- No official reason found.
Documented
Managing Director, Kerala State Co-operative Marketing Federation (Marketfed)(compulsory leave)
He issued notice for a Marketfed board meeting in compliance with a Kerala High Court order, against an earlier direction from the Registrar of Cooperative Societies not to hold it while a member's election was under challenge. The state cabinet sent him on a year's compulsory leave. BiharPrabha (2013) says it followed his 'refusing to play ball with the chairman, a senior politician'.
- Up against
- Marketfed chairman ("a senior politician", unnamed); state cabinet Government: CPI(M)-led LDF (E. K. Nayanar, CM).
- Reported reason
- Rediff: the Marketfed row 'merely provided the immediate provocation'; he 'has never been very popular with politicians'.
- The officer said
- He refused to speak to the press (Rediff).
- The other side said
- The government 'did not take kindly to the move' (Rediff); no official statement quoted.
- Outcome
- Sent on compulsory leave. Colleagues said the decision 'would not stand legal scrutiny'.
7 years with no move on record here.
Documented
District Collector, KottayamDistrict Collector, Idukki
As Kottayam Collector (27 Jul 2006 – 13 May 2007) he ran large raids on foodgrain godowns that, per TOI and NIE, exposed a nexus between officials and traders. He was then sent to Idukki as one of three officers handpicked by CM V. S. Achuthanandan for the Munnar anti-encroachment drive; Wikipedia and BiharPrabha say CPI(M) leaders objected to his selection.
Kottayam district administration (official) · The Times of India, Oct 2012 · The New Indian Express, Nov 2010
Documented
District Collector, Idukki (Operation Munnar)Pathanamthitta
'Operation Munnar' demolished unauthorised buildings, including a party office. His survey of land linked to PWD Minister T. U. Kuruvilla's children, who had taken ₹6.5 crore from an NRI businessman for land suspected to be encroached, found much of it to be government land, and Kuruvilla resigned on 3 September 2007. NIE reports that, 'succumbing to pressure from his party, VS dismantled the three-member brigade', and Narayanaswamy was posted to Pathanamthitta. TOI says he 'was promptly transferred' and spent months in 'insignificant departments'.
- Up against
- T. U. Kuruvilla; CPI(M) state leadership, PWD Minister (Kerala Congress-J); ruling party, Kerala Congress (Joseph) / CPI(M) Government: CPI(M)-led LDF (V. S. Achuthanandan, CM).
- Reported reason
- NIE (2010) and TOI (2012) both say he was moved because of pressure from politicians angered by the drive.
- The officer said
- "In my service life, I have always fought against corruption. We could be sidelined but officers should not get demoralized."
- The other side said
- Kuruvilla 'maintained everything was above board' (BiharPrabha). No official reason was given for dismantling the team.
- Outcome
- Kuruvilla resigned. The Munnar task force was disbanded.
- What became of the matter
- Partly reversed. In July 2009 the Kerala High Court annulled the eviction and demolition at the Munnar Woods resort, ordered the state to return 2.84 acres, and directed Narayanaswamy to pay ₹15,000 in costs personally, noting the demolition went ahead despite a pending injunction case (NIE, via search summary; article not fetched in full). The New Indian Express, Jul 2009
The New Indian Express, Nov 2010 · The Times of India, Oct 2012 · Hindustan Times (archived), Sep 2007 · The Indian Express, Sep 2007
Documented
Secretary, General EducationSecretary, Parliamentary Affairs
In at least half a dozen files he had recommended disciplinary action, including suspension, against VHSE director Mohan Abraham, and he queried a ₹5-lakh voucher. Sources in the Education Department told NIE he was shunted out because 'He refused to dilute his recommendation'. Parliamentary Affairs was described as 'a token responsibility'.
- Up against
- M. A. Baby, Education Minister, CPI(M) Government: CPI(M)-led LDF (V. S. Achuthanandan, CM).
- Reported reason
- NIE: he earned the minister's wrath by 'repeatedly pointing out serious anomalies'. NIE (2010): he 'refused to obey the minister's directive to protect a corrupt official' (reporter's characterisation).
- The other side said
- No official reason; the minister was not quoted.
- What became of the matter
- Unknown. Whether disciplinary action was taken against the VHSE director was not found.
The New Indian Express, Sep 2009 · The New Indian Express, Nov 2010
4 years with no move on record here.
Documented
Commissioner, Civil Supplies(removed)
Mathrubhumi (headline, via Wikipedia and an archived link, not fetched) reported 'Following vigilance probe against minister, Raju Narayanaswami loses chair', after a vigilance inquiry involving Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob. In October 2012, TOI counted 24 transfers in his 20-year career.
- Up against
- Anoop Jacob, Minister for Food & Civil Supplies, Kerala Congress (Jacob) Government: Congress-led UDF (Oommen Chandy, CM).
- Reported reason
- Per Mathrubhumi's headline (not fetched). TOI shows a Thrissur vigilance court ordered probes against Jacob in 2013 on separate complaints.
- The other side said
- Jacob denied the allegations (per search summaries; not fetched). No official reason for the transfer found.
Mathrubhumi (archived), Jan 2013 · The Times of India, Feb 2013 · The Times of India, Oct 2012
5 years with no move on record here.
Documented
Secretary, Agriculture, KeralaChairman, Coconut Development Board (central deputation)
TOI reports he went on central deputation after 'serious differences with agriculture minister V S Sunil Kumar and other senior officials of the department'.
- Up against
- V. S. Sunil Kumar, Agriculture Minister, CPI Government: CPI(M)-led LDF (Pinarayi Vijayan, CM).
- The other side said
- Not found.
The Times of India, Jun 2019 · The New Indian Express, Mar 2019
Documented
Chairman, Coconut Development BoardRepatriated to Kerala cadre
As CDB chairman (from 8 Aug 2018) he found alleged corruption by the Bengaluru regional director and a technical officer, who were suspended. In November 2018 he told the CAT there was an attempt to remove him, naming Union Agriculture Ministry joint secretary Dinesh Kumar and horticulture commissioner B. N. S. Murthy. He was repatriated on 7 March 2019, five months short of his one-year term. The Kerala High Court stayed the order on 15 March 2019.
- Up against
- Dinesh Kumar; B. N. S. Murthy, Joint Secretary, Union Agriculture Ministry; Horticulture Commissioner, Government of India (Ministry of Agriculture) Government: BJP-led NDA (Narendra Modi, PM).
- Reported reason
- TOI: he moved out after 'differences he had with the Union ministry'.
- The officer said
- "I was removed as the chairman when I refused to succumb to the demand to reinstate the suspended officials involved in corruption." "Only those with a godfather can survive in the service."
- The other side said
- No official reason found. The Supreme Court later recorded the CAT Madras Bench's observations (O.A. 310/1011/2019) 'enumerating detailed instances of indiscipline and improprieties' against him.
- Outcome
- HC interim stay (March 2019). He did not report back to the state until 17 March 2020.
- What became of the matter
- Pending. CAT Madras O.A. 1011/2019 was decided against him (per the CAT Ernakulam order of 2022, which notes an OP (CAT) challenge pending and 'no stay was granted'). The final High Court outcome was not found. CAT Ernakulam, via Indian Kanoon, Dec 2022
The New Indian Express, Mar 2019 · The Indian Express, Jun 2019 · The Times of India, Jun 2019
Documented
(no posting; absent from duty per state)(compulsory retirement proposed)
A four-member review committee headed by Chief Secretary Tom Jose unanimously recommended his compulsory retirement for 'poor performance'. TOI says a similar proposal had been rejected by former CM Oommen Chandy. He accused Tom Jose of 'wreaking vengeance'.
- Up against
- Tom Jose, Chief Secretary of Kerala, Government of Kerala Government: CPI(M)-led LDF (Pinarayi Vijayan, CM).
- The officer said
- "The chief secretary is wreaking vengeance on me… I would legally fight against any move to remove me from service."
- The other side said
- Tom Jose: "I have no comments to offer on it, including the allegation against me." R. Mohan, Principal Secretary to the CM: "We haven't come across any such file."
- What became of the matter
- Not pursued or unknown. No compulsory-retirement order was found; he remained in service and was assessed for promotion in 2020–22. The Supreme Court records that his 19.03.2019–16/17.03.2020 absence was treated as 'non-duty'. Supreme Court of India, Apr 2025
Documented
A screening committee found him unfit for the Chief Secretary (apex) grade, and a review committee in April 2021 cited poor ratings for 'leadership quality and interpersonal skills'; ACRs were unavailable for eleven years. On 23 April 2025 the Supreme Court dismissed his appeal, holding that pre-2016 adverse entries 'do not relate to dishonesty' and were 'weak material', but that the overall record, including the 2019–20 absence, supported the committee.
- The officer said
- In his petition he said 'he was being targeted for having done his job' (TNM, paraphrase).
- The other side said
- State: promotion denied on merit and record (SC judgment).
- Outcome
- Appeal dismissed.
Judgment Raju Naryana Swamy v. State of Kerala, Civil Appeal No. 3215 of 2025, 2025 INSC 563 (P. S. Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi JJ), Apr 2025
Admittedly, adverse entries in ACRs prior to earlier promotion in 2016 do not relate to dishonesty and cannot by themselves constitute a ground to deny promotion…
Judgment Same judgment, para 22, Apr 2025
Individual excellence may sometimes lead to superiority complex and hinder commitment to discipline, decorum and collegiality.
Judgment CAT Ernakulam, O.A. No. 180/00199/2021 (Justice Sunil Thomas, K. V. Eapen), Dec 2022
(order on his challenge to supersession; not quoted here)
Supreme Court of India, Apr 2025 · The News Minute, Dec 2023 · CAT Ernakulam, via Indian Kanoon, Dec 2022