Less than three months after being appointed as the secretary general of the Rajya Sabha, PPK Ramacharyulu has been replaced with former CBDT chairman PC Mody.
Mody has been appointed as the new secretary general of the Rajya Sabha just weeks before the commencement of the Winter Session of Parliament, which is expected to start from November 29.
Mody, a former chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), will be the new secretary general of the Upper House of Parliament. Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu has signed an order to this effect, sources in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat said.
Ramacharyulu has now been appointed as an advisor in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, they added.
Ramacharyulu was appointed as the secretary general of the Rajya Sabha on September 1. No reason has been given for his replacement, the sources said.
Responding to the news of Ramacharyulu being replaced within three months, Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh wrote on Twitter: “Not surprised at all Dr. P.P.K. Ramacharyulu is a thorough professional, non-partisan and perfectly qualified for the post — three deadly sins in the Modi regime.”
Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha took a swipe and took to Twitter to express his opinion “there is more to ‘it’ than what meets the ‘eye’”.
The social media too went with vivid views on the sudden appointment of Mody by replacing Rajya Sabha’s home grown officer Ramacharyulu.
Few mentions included that there seem to be many firsts in new Rajya Sabha Secretary General’s appointment. Like the first time new RS Secy Gen will have his predecessor as advisor, outgoing SG makes a new record of shortest tenure and from legal experts to IAS—now RS SG comes from IRS background.
Mody, a 1982-batch retired Indian Revenue Service(IRS) officer and former Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), assumed his charge on Friday.
Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman M.Venkaiah Naidu appointed Mody in the rank and status of Cabinet Secretary till August 10, 2022 or until further orders whichever is earlier, a Rajya Sabha communiqué said on Friday.
Born on September 1, 1959, Mody has almost 40 years of long experience for handling various posts in the Government including Chairman of CBDT. He has deep insight into jurisprudence and exposure to judicial and quasi-judicial processes.
As the Member (Administration), CBDT, he has handled the entire cadre of Indian Revenue Service Officers and staff. He has also supervised the functioning of investigation wing of the Income Tax Department spread throughout the country as the Member (Investigation), CBDT.
Mody holds Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law degrees. He also holds a Diploma in journalism.