Centre seeks services of WB Chief Secy, asks him to report in Delhi on Monday

 

 

 

BARELY four days after he was granted extension, the Centre on Friday night sought services of West Bengal Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay and asked the State Government to relieve the officer immediately, a move termed by the ruling Trinamool Congress as “forced deputation”. Bandyopadhyay, a 1987-batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre, was scheduled to retire on May 31 after completion of 60 years of age. However, he was granted a three-month extension following a nod from the Centre. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to grant Bandyopadhyay an extension for at least six months in view of his experience of handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

In a communique to the State Government, the Personnel Ministry on Friday said the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the placement of the services of Bandyopadhyay with Government of India as per provisions of the Indian Administrative Service (cadre) Rules, 1954, “with immediate effect”. While asking the State Government to relieve the officer with immediate effect, it also directed Bandyopadhyay to report to the Department of Personnel and Training, North Block, New Delhi by 10 am on May 31. The IAS cadre rule says a cadre officer may, with the concurrence of the State Governments concerned and the Central Government, be deputed for service under the Central Government or another State Government.

 

“Provided that in case of any disagreement, the matter shall be decided by the Central Government and the state Government or State Governments concerned shall give effect to the decision of the Central Government,” it says. The order from the Centre angered the Trinamool Congress which said the decision to seek Bandyopadhyay’s services was because the people of the state gave an overwhelming mandate to the Chief Minister. Trinamool Congress MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy described it as “forced central deputation” of the chief secretary and asked, “Has this ever happened since Independence? Forced central deputation of a chief secretary of a state? How much lower will Modi-Shah’s BJP stoop?” Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari alleged that Banerjee and the Chief Secretary have insulted PM Modi by not attending a meeting chaired by him to discuss the ravages caused by Cyclone Yaas.