The race to occupy the post of chief secretary, which is considered as the goal of every IAS officer, has intensified because incumbent chief secretary N Ravishankar may join as chairman of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) or as State information commissioner (SIC), Uttarakhand. Sources said Additional Chief secretary Rakesh Sharma, who is currently the next senior most IAS officer working in Uttarakhand, is running ahead in the race.
Though senior IAS officer Amrendra Sinha is senior to Rakesh Sharma, he is on deputation and known as an officer who works on his own terms and conditions so Sharma’s chances are stronger than others. last time Sharma had lost race because at the last moment N Ravishankar, who was relieved by the Union Government in 2014, was appointed as chief secretary by the Chief Minister Harish Rawat. The CM has not opened his cards so permutations and combinations are looming large among bureaucrats and media as well.
Sources said that Rakesh Sharma generally remains in news whether for good or bad reasons which is why Chief Minister Rawat did not consider his candidature for the top post last year. Rawat is known to like giving message in his every move so from this perspective he may again amaze everybody by appointing someone else as Chief Secretary.
Sources also said that additional chief secretary S Raju is also keen to grab the post of chief secretary. Although S Raju is junior to Rakesh Sharma, there are several instances when junior officer appointed as chief secretary in stead of a senior. Thereafter senior officers were shown exit door from secretariat because as per the service conduct no senior officer can work under their junior.
For instance when Principal Secretary Subhash Kumar was made chief secretary by the chief minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank then senior most Ajay Joshi was appointed as director general of Uttarakhand administrative academy.
later Alok Kumar Jain was made chief secretary by removing then chief secretary Subhash Kumar by the then Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna and Subhash Kumar was shown exit route from secretariat. later Chief minister Vijay Bahuguna re-appointed Subhash Kumar as chief secretary of Uttarakhand.
Thereafter chief minister Harish Rawat appointed N Ravishankar, who was deputation and secretary in government of India, was especially brought from Delhi to make chief secretary of Uttarakhand in 2014.Then entire people were expecting that ACS Rakesh Sharma may be elevated on the post of chief secretary so decision had amazed everyone.
It would be pertinent to mention here that incumbent chief secretary N Ravishankar is going to retire by July 2015 so he is more willing to ensure his post retirement. In this scenario he is trying to grab a post in Central Government probably he may appoint as Chairman of NHAI and if he did not get then he may join as SIC, Uttarakhand.
Although picture may clear by April 1 because incumbent SIC NS Napalchyal is going to retire by April 1 so if he did not join then the post might be occupied by others. As we know that in SIC being appointed for five years or till the age of 65 years whichever would be earlier.