Bihar Chief Secretary Amir Subhani (IAS:1987:BH) has opted for Voluntary Retirement Service (VRS) a couple of months ahead of his scheduled retirement on April 30, 2024. Speculation is rife that Brijesh Mehrotra (IAS:1987:BH) will step into Subhani’s shoes. Notably, Mehrotra is slated to retire in August 2024. Similar to Subhani, Mehrotra has been a prominent figure among the officers favored by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and has held key positions during Nitish Kumar’s tenure.
Traditionally, Chief Secretaries in Bihar have been granted extensions by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, as seen with Deepak Kumar (IAS:1984:BH) and Tripurari Sharan (IAS:1985:BH). However, this practice has not been extended to Aamir Subhani. Sources indicate that the Chief Minister harbors no reservations about Subhani, as he has consistently supported him. The decision not to grant an extension to Subhani is attributed to the BJP’s stance within the NDA government, which opposes his continued tenure. On the other hand, the incoming Chief Secretary, Brijesh Mehrotra, is expected to have a brief tenure, retiring in August 2024.
Aamir Subhani, initially appointed by Nitish Kumar, opting for VRS signals a shift in the bureaucratic landscape, indicating the influence of the new dispensation supported by the BJP just ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
