Mandal likely to be new Chief Secy
| Date :31-Oct-2019 |
Rajendra Prasad Mandal Sunil Kujur
Staff Reporter :
RAIPUR
It is likely that the announcement of new Chief Secretary would be made on Thursday afternoon In Chhattisgarh, in these 19 years, ten IAS officers have donned the mantle of Chief Secretary
WITH the superannuation of Chief Secretary Sunil Kumar Kujur on Thursday, inquisitiveness as to who will be the next Chief Secretary has been high throughout the day as the state government did not announce the name of his successor till Wednesday night. However, if highly placed sources are to be believed, Rajendra Prasad Mandal, a 1987 batch Chhattisgarh cadre IAS officer, is most likely to be appointed as the next Chief Secretary.
Rajendra Prasad Mandal, born on November 19, 1960 is presently posted as Additional Chief Secretary Panchayat and Rural Development with additional charge of Development Commissioner and Director General Thakur Pyarelal Panchayat and Rural Development Institute (SIRD), Raipur as well as Forest department. It is likely that the announcement of new Chief Secretary would be made on Thursday afternoon.
Also in the contention for the post were Chittaranjan Kumar Khetan, a 1987 batch Chhattisgarh cadre IAS officer, presently posted as Additional Chief Secretary Home and Jail with additional charge of Planning, Economics and Statistics, Implementation of 20 points Programme and Science and Technology department and former Chief Secretary Ajay Singh, a 1983 batch officer, presently posted as President Board of Revenue Bilaspur. But the state government seems to have cleared the name of RP Mandal for the top post and it’s likely that his appointment order will be issued on Thursday.
In Chhattisgarh, in these 19 years, 10 IAS officers have donned the mantle of Chief Secretary. Many a times, Chief Secretaries were appointed over looking seniority. Under such case generally the state government issues order for appointment of Chief Secretary during final hours only so as to avoid any litigation. Presently, ACS Khetan has seniority over R P Mandal, although both the officers are of 1987 batch. With appointment of R P Mandal as the Chief Secretary there is all likelihood that C K Khetan will be moved out of Mantralaya and will be posted either as Chairman, Chhattisgarh State Administrative Academy, Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education or Chhattisgarh Board of Professional Examination, as an administrative protocol. R P Mandal will retire in November 2020.