In what is considered an unprecedented move, the Karnataka government has granted extension to senior IAS officer Luthfulla Khan Atheeq, on a contractual basis. Widely seen as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s Man Friday, this 1991 batch officer has been granted an extension just ahead of his retirement this month. Atheeq was due to superannuate on January 31, but will now continue as Additional Chief Secretary to the CM on a contract basis.
Giving an extension to an Additional Chief Secretary-rank officer on a contractual basis is considered to be an unprecedented development. Besides being the CM’s Additional Chief Secretary, he also heads the finance department.
The real story behind this extension-giving exercise is said to be CM Siddaramaiah’s desire to retain Atheeq in view of the 2025-26 budget, which is going to be Siddaramaiah’s record 16th budget as the finance minister.
Siddaramaiah’s fascination for Atheeq began in 1995 when he presented his first budget. Atheeq was then a deputy secretary at the finance department. But it was in 2016 when Atheeq became Siddaramaiah’s principal secretary that they started working closely on policy matters.
Atheeq was shunted out when the BJP came to power in 2019, but Siddaramaiah’s return to power in 2023 saw Atheeq being brought back to head the finance department.
In the meantime, 1996-batch IAS officer Ritesh Kumar Singh has been appointed as principal secretary of the finance department. He is said to have been picked to replace Atheeq, who will now work with Chief Minister.
