AP CS K Vijayanand likely to be reappointed after retirement as special CS

Present-day civil servants appear to be more pragmatic than their predecessors, as they believe in launching their careers after retirement. This is exactly what is unfolding in the case of outgoing Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand (IAS:1992:AP). He is scheduled to retire on Jan 31 after completing an extended tenure but is likely to be reappointed as ex-officio Special Chief Secretary to the state government.

Interestingly, his senior, G. Sai Prasad (IAS:1991:AP), currently posted as Special Chief Secretary in the revenue and water resources departments, is set to take over the reins of Chief Secretary from Vijayanand after he retires the day after tomorrow.

Sources close to Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu say the CM has decided to continue using the services of Vijayanand in the ex-officio cadre for at least one more year. According to them, Vijayanand is expected to head the energy department as Special Chief Secretary. It needs special mention here that despite making him Chief Secretary last year, the state govt did not replace him in the energy department.

Its real significance lies in the fact that it is totally unbecoming of regular chief secretaries being asked to hold additional key portfolios like energy. The one dominant reason behind CM Naidu’s decision to continue using Vijayanand’s services is his vast experience in the execution of energy projects and key role in attracting big-ticket green energy projects.

MT Krishna Babu (IAS:1993:AP), another Special Chief Secretary-rank officer, is likely to be given full additional charge of managing director and VC of APSRTC as the term of the incumbent MD and former DGP Ch Dwaraka Tirumala Rao (IPS:1989:AP) also comes to an end on January 31.

It is not that the state government is employing retired bureaucrats out of sympathy or favour. The ground reality is that it is facing a real crunch of senior-level officers. This was the same reason why Special Chief Secretary B Rajasekhar (IAS:1992:AP), who retired last year, was also given an extension to continue as in charge of the crucial agriculture, horticulture, and marketing wings. The same factor worked behind giving an extension to Dr M Hari Jawaharlal (IAS:2005:AP) and posting him as endowments secretary.