Retired ‘blue-eyed’ babus call shots All six former Chief Secretaries re-employed Pradeep Sharma/TNS Chandigarh, June 28 Senior bureaucrats and police officials having proximity to powers that be call the shots even after retirement, with the Hooda government ready to accommodate them on plum postings. The post-retirement rehabilitation of “blue-eyed” bureaucrats, which entitles officers to retain palatial official accommodation, car with red beacon, secretarial staff and hefty pay and perks, has been the practice for years. The trend picked momentum with the Hooda government taking charge in 2005. In the last eight years, at least a dozen IAS officers, including all six former Chief Secretaries, had been re-employed by the present regime. The current Chief Secretary’s predecessor Urvashi Gulati was accommodated as the State Information Commissioner (SIC) last year. Earlier, her husband Naresh Gulati, Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) at present, was appointed as the SIC. Her sister Meenakshi Anand Choudhary was first appointed the SIC and subsequently promoted as the CIC. The trend of the State Information Commission being the place to be for retired bureaucrats started with former Chief Secretary G Madhavan, who was appointed the CIC. Another retired bureaucrat, Sajjan Singh, was appointed the SIC recently. Former Chief Secretaries who managed a post-retirement postings are Prem Prashant (Member, State Administrative Reforms Commission), Dharam Vir (State Election Commissioner), Promilla Issar (Chairman, Environment Assessment Authority) and AN Mathur (Chairman, State Finance Commission). Other superannuated officers have not been behind in getting postings. Recently, Secretary to the Governor Mohinder Kumar was given a three-month extension while former IAS officer JS Ahlawat was adjusted as a Haryana Human Rights Commission Member. While RD Sheokand has been the Chairman of the Haryana Public Service Commission, MP Bidhlan is a Member. LSM Salins has been State Finance Commission Member. Former Director-General of Police RS Dalal was appointed the Director-General of the Haryana Institute of Public Administration, Gurgaon, after retirement. Another retired police officer, PV Rathee, was re-employed as Principal Adviser (Law and Order). Chief Secy given 6-month extension Tribune News Service PK Choudhery Chandigarh, June 28 The government today granted extension for six months to Chief Secretary PK Choudhery following the nod from the Centre. With this, the 1977-batch IAS officer became the first Chief Secretary of the state to get extension. With this extension, Choudhery superseded two officers, RS Gujral (1976), Union Expenditure Secretary, and Krishan Mohan (1977), Haryana Additional Chief Secretary. This was the second time Choudhery superseded Gujral and Mohan. He had superseded his batch-mate Raj Kumar last year. Choudhery will remain the Chief Secretary till December 31 while-a tenure which Mohan’s superannuation is due on September 30. After his extended tenure, four officers, SC Choudhary (1977), Shakuntala Jakhu, Sanjay Kothari (1978) and Ajit M Sharan (1979) will be in race for the post of Chief Secretary. Last year, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had written to the Union Ministry of Personnel, seeking Choudhery’s repatriation. Choudhery was working as the Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Besides enjoying the confidence of the Chief Minister, Chaudhery is a relative of Hooda’s trouble-shooter and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Randeep Surjewala. The two factors seemed to have played a crucial role in the request for Choudhery’s extension. Govt staff up in arms against post-retirement rehabilitation Pradeep Sharma Tribune News Service Chandigarh,June 28 Secretariat officials, considered to be the backbone of the administrative machinery, are up in arms against the pick-and-choose post-retirement rehabilitation policy of the Hooda government for its ‘blue-eyed’ officials. Resentment is brewing among hundreds of secretariat officials against retiring officials usurping posts meant for cadre officials after superannuation by using pressure tactics, especially political pressure. “The phenomenon of re-employment is spreading like a virus. A majority of officers, on attaining the age of superannuation, are seeking re-employment, oblivious of the fact their action becomes an impediment in the career advancement of cadre officials which is causing financial loss and demoralisation,” said Ramesh Gaba, president of the Haryana Secretariat Service Officers Association. Alleging that retiring officials were being retained under political pressure by throwing to the winds administrative norms, another office-bearer of the association alleged that re-employment resulted in humiliation of serving cadre officials. “Though they have no legal right to be on the job after retirement, their proximity to politicians and senior bureaucrats enables them to continue on the job for years together,” he complained. The Hooda Government has been very liberal in accommodating its officials, including IAS, HCS and middle-rung officials, even after superannuation, raising the hackles of the opposition and employees’ unions. It has been learnt that 17 officials have been re-employed for a period ranging from one month to six years. Though retiring officials are given an extension for a few months, they continue to occupy their posts for years, blocking promotional avenues of serving officials. Among re-employed officials are Ghanshyam Dass, SK Miglani, Vikram Arya, Dhan Singh, Ravi Kant, PK Aggarwal, Shadi Lal Kapoor, Padam Parkash, RK Madan, Ram Mehar Sharma, Jangsher, Pradeep Kumar, Raj Mal, KK Makkar, Amar Nath Malhotra, Subodh Bindal and Brahma Nand.
Posted on: Sat, 29 Jun 2013 06:43:10 +0000
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