All transfers in Uttar Pradesh will now be done only with the approval of chief minister Yogi Adityanath, an order issued by the chief secretary has said.

The state had recently witnessed a major controversy over transfers in the public works, health and jal shakti departments, leading to suspension of senior officials.

The order by chief secretary Durga Shankar Mishra was issued to all additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries and secretaries on Tuesday. It said the season of transfers ended on June 30 and now shifting of all employees would be done after taking necessary permission from the chief minister. According to the annual transfer policy issued on June 15, all transfers at the district and division levels were to be done by June 30.

There had been a major controversy in the state’s PWD headed by minister Jitin Prasada over the transfer of employees, leading to the removal of his officer on special duty and suspension of five senior department officials. Deputy chief minister Brijesh Pathak, who also holds the medical and health portfolios, was unhappy about the transfer of doctors in his department and had written to Amit Mohan Prasad, the additional chief secretary, questioning the procedure followed. The minister of state for jal shakti, Dinesh Khatik, had sent in his resignation alleging irregularities in transfers.