Senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka, known for his honesty and clean image, is retiring today (Wednesday) after nearly 34 years of service. Throughout his career, he was transferred 57 times, often for taking tough stands against corruption. He is currently the Additional Chief Secretary of the Transport Department in Haryana, a role he took over in December 2024.

Khemka became widely known in 2012 when he cancelled a land deal in Gurugram that involved Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. His action brought national attention, as it dealt with an important step in transferring land ownership.

Ashok Khemka’s career has been unusual for the sheer number of times he’s been transferred 57 in total, averaging one transfer every six months, possibly more than any other bureaucrat in Haryana. He returned to the Transport Department in December 2024, almost 10 years after he was first moved out of the same department during the early days of the BJP government led by Manohar Lal Khattar. Back then, he had held the post of Transport Commissioner for just four months.

Over the last 12 years, Khemka was mostly given roles considered "low-profile." He was posted to the Archives Department four times, once under the Congress government in 2013 and three times during the BJP government, where he served as Director General and later as Principal Secretary.

In January 2023, Ashok Khemka wrote a letter to Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, offering to head the state’s vigilance department. He said he wanted to fight corruption and ensure no one-no matter how powerful, would be spared. In the letter, he also criticised the unfair work distribution among bureaucrats, pointing out that while some officers were overloaded, others like him had very little to do in departments such as Archives.

Earlier, after many of his batchmates were promoted to Secretary-level posts in the central government, Khemka had shared his disappointment on social media. He congratulated them but also admitted feeling left behind, highlighting the emotional toll of being overlooked despite his long service.

Ashok Khemka once said, “Straight trees are always cut first. No regrets. With renewed resolve, I shall persist,” reflecting his firm stand against corruption and unfair practices.Born in Kolkata in 1965, Khemka is not only known for his honesty but also his impressive academic background. He graduated in Computer Science from IIT Kharagpur, earned a PhD from TIFR, and completed an MBA with a focus on Business Administration and Finance. While working as an IAS officer, he even pursued a law degree (LLB) from Panjab University, showing his dedication to learning and public service.