In a major administrative reform in Karnataka, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has promised not to transfer any deputy commissioner or superintendent of police before two years.

The chief minister promised a minimum tenure of two years to deputy commissioners and superintendents of police at an annual conference of senior police officials.

Yeddyurappa said the move would facilitate good governance and dispel the cloud of uncertainty. Interestingly, Yeddyurappa's assurance appears to be in conflict with the stance taken by many chief ministers who are averse to the idea of giving a fixed term to the bureaucracy.

The idea of promising fixed terms was mooted by the Supreme Court in its order on a public interest litigation filed by a former Border Security Force Director General, Prakash Singh, two years ago. The apex court had sought as written undertaking from all chief ministers to stick to the rule of allowing fixed term to bureaucrats. However, none of the chief ministers agreed with the court's view and and opposed any move to dilute chief ministers' authority on matters of postings and transfers.

Yeddyurappa's move signals a serious re-thinking among politicians who have been bearing the brunt of people's ire over bad governance. Significantly, the chief minister acknowledged that his regime would be found wanting in good governance if administrative reforms were not effected immediately.