Rumours are doing rounds in Players Building, the seat of Delhi Government, that the Delhi Chief Secretary Sanjay Kumar Srivastava may replace Secretary (Urban Development) Dr Sudhir Krishna, who is superannuating on June 30.
Srivastava, who was especially brought as Delhi’s Chief Secretary by the then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, had also served as the vice-chairman of Delhi Development Authority (DDA).
He is a 1980 batch Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer of the Arunachal, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre is serving as CS Delhi since January 10 of the current year. Sources said that Srivastava has reported to have held several meetings with Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu.
Sources said that the 1979 batch IAS officer Anand Prakash, 1980 batch officer Naini Jayaseelan and 1981 batch officer Vijay Madan are the frontrunners for the post of the CS in the event of Srivastava moving to the Centre. Naini Jayaseelan is currently member secretary in NCR Planning Board while Madan is Director General of UID. Rumor are also doing the rounds that the MHA may appoint chief secretary from outside UT cadre.
Srivastava had taken charge as Chief Secretary of the Delhi Government on January 10, 2013 by replacing DM Spolia who was in the post since December 2012. Srivastava was made Chief Secretary of Delhi by then Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to tone down the Delhi Administration but the sudden resignation of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had left many high and dry. Questions were being asked then about the future of Srivastava as CS after the exit of Kejriwal Government but he survived as lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung continued with him.
Before joining the Delhi Government, Srivastava was working as special secretary and financial adviser in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. He earlier served as vice-chairman of Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Chief Secretary of Goa. He had also held several other important posts during his 34 years of service in the AGMUT cadre.