Thiruvananthapuram: With political opposition mounting against seeking an extension to Kerala Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson, the top bureaucrat has come out with an explanation that he has not sought an extended tenure, but the state cabinet is likely to take up the issue in a special session slated for Monday.
See Chief Secretary's Tweet
Let me put it on record for every one concerned that I have NOT even once asked for my tenure to be extended as Chief Secretary of #Kerala.
— Chief Secretary GoK (@cskerala) February 13, 2016
Jiji Thomson's tenure ends on Feb 29.
In letters dated February 11, Opposition leader V.S. Achuthanandan had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi not to consider such a move, citing that the latter was an accused in a case under the consideration of the Supreme Court. VS had also said that all norms of the Department of Training and Personnel, which comes under the Prime Minister himself, were flouted in Jiji Thomson's appointment as chief secretary.
Read: Chief Secy's extension hits fresh road block
Also, read: Why did VS write to PM, CEC
CPM politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan said media reports that the Election Commission had suggested extending the tenure were fabricated.
Onmanorama's e-mails to the Chief Election Commissioner Zaidi to verify this did not elicit any response.
E-mails sent to Minister of State Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Jitender Singh and Establishment Officer and Additional Secretary Rajiv Kumar seeking a confirmation about the state's reported move to seek extension also met the same fate.
The UDF itself seems to be a divided house on the extension issue, with a section favouring the appointment of Institute of Management in Government Director General P.K. Mohanty, who is in the rank of Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), the senior most bureaucrat after Jiji Thomson.
Mohanty too has a service of just over three months and he will retire on April 30.
Sources said DoPT has asked the state government to put forth a demand for extension ratified by the state cabinet, after which the issue can be taken up. Onmanorama could not independently verify this.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy too feigned ignorance on the issue, saying he too came to know about the reported move to seek extension for the chief secretary through media. Chandy, however, chose to neither confirm nor deny it.
A top Congress leader who is a constitutional functionary in New Delhi has been entrusted with the task of doing the follow-up with the DopT and the PMO, it is reliably learnt.
Other contenders
S.M. Vijayanand, currently Secretary, ministry of Panchayat Raj of the Union Government, who is on deputation has also expressed his consent to come back to state.
All three previous chief secretaries were appointed while they were on central deputation. Nalin Netto, also ACS, Home Department, is the third bureaucrat, who could be considered for the post.
Vijayanand is a 1981-batch IAS officer but senior to Nalini Netto, who is of the same batch. The seniority is decided by rank. Vijayanand had the seventh rank in All India level and is the topper from Kerala.
Ironically, Vijayanand has expressed his willingness to return from central deputation through chief secretary Jiji Thomson himself.
It is the discretion of the state government to appoint the chief secretary, regardless of seniority.
If Jiji Thomson does not get an extension, the government is likely to opt for Mohanty. After 1983, the government has not disrupted seniority in the appointment of chief secretary. Mohanty retires on April 30.
Going by Date of Birth (DOB), Vijayanand (DOB:15-3-1957) will retire on March 31, 2017 and Nalini Netto (DOB:19-8-1957) on August 31 the same year.
Technically, the cabinet can postpone a decision till its February 24 meeting, its last before Jiji Thomson’s term ends.
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