• Source:JND
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Senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka, one of the most accomplished bureaucrats in Haryana, is set to retire today. Known for his honesty and integrity, Khemka's service career spans nearly 34 years, during which he was transferred 57 times. A 1991-batch officer, Khemka will retire from the post of Additional Chief Secretary in the Transport Department, a position he was appointed to in December 2024.

Born on April 30, 1965, in Kolkata, Khemka completed his schooling and earned a degree in Computer Engineering from IIT Kharagpur in 1988. He later pursued a PhD in Computer Science from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and also earned an MBA. While in service, he also completed an LLB from Panjab University in Chandigarh. 

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Khemka rose to national prominence in 2012 when he annulled a ‘controversial’ land deal in Gurugram involving Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. His courageous decision came despite the prevailing political pressures, as Haryana had Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government during that period.   

The maximum number of his transfers came due to his uncompromising approach in dealing with corruption cases. Distraught over his 53rd transfer, Khemka once said the price of his honesty was humiliation. 

Khemka became well-known in the state bureaucracy for his record 57 transfers. He was transferred from the Transport Department by the Manohar Lal Khattar-led state government, even though he had held the post for only four months. Nearly a decade later, he was reappointed to the same department in December. 

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In 2023, Khemka wrote a letter to CM Khattar, requesting to be posted in the state vigilance department to help root out corruption. “Towards the end of my service career, I offer my services to head the Vigilance department to root out corruption. If given an opportunity, I assure you there would be real war against corruption and no one however high and mighty will be spared,” he said in the letter. 

Due to his blunt and uncompromising attitude, Khemka always helmed "not-so-significant” departments, such as archaeology, printing and stationery.