The Punjab government on Saturday (23.12.2023) issued transfer and posting orders for two senior IPS officers.
The names of the officers and their postings are given below:
As West Bengal’s Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) gear up for retirement in December, the state government is in the process of deliberating potential successors for these pivotal roles.
The present Chief Secretary, HK Dwivedi (IAS:1988:WB), is already on an extension, granted by the government on June 28 earlier this year. Initially slated to retire in June 2023, Dwivedi’s term received a six-month extension from the central government in June. With a diverse background encompassing key departments such as home and finance, Dwivedi has previously served as an additional chief secretary in the state home department and held positions as a commercial tax commissioner and in charge of the state excise department.
While various names circulate in the corridors of power, the actual appointments may hold surprises. Sources suggest that Bhagwati Prasad Gopalika (IAS:1989:WB), currently serving as Additional Chief Secretary (Home), is a frontrunner for the Chief Secretary post. However, no confirmation can be made until an official announcement is issued.
For the position of DGP, IPS officer Manoj Malviya (IPS:1986:WB) is set to retire. Sources point to former Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar (IPS:1989:WB), currently serving as the Secretary of the Information and Technology Department, as a leading contender for the role. Another contender is IPS officer Dr. Rajesh Kumar (IPS:1990:WB) has previously served as the Additional DGP of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Commissioner of Kolkata Police.
While Rajeev Kumar and Dr. Rajesh Kumar are considered top contenders, no official confirmation has been made, and sources emphasize the premature nature of naming any candidate before an official announcement.
There is also speculation among officials that the state may consider extending Malviya’s term, providing an additional six months, similar to the extension granted to the Chief Secretary earlier, though this remains speculative at this stage.
Following the change of government in Rajasthan, the impending retirement of Chief Secretary Usha Sharma (IAS:1985:RJ) on December 31 has set the stage for the appointment of a new Chief Secretary. Amidst speculations, approximately 10 IAS officers find themselves in the spotlight for this coveted position. Despite the traditional significance of seniority, recent trends suggest that this criterion may not hold decisive weight in the final selection.
Chief Secretary Usha Sharma’s original tenure concluded on June 30, but a six-month extension granted by the Central Government prolonged her term until December 31, 2023, at the behest of the Gehlot government.
Among the contenders for Chief Secretary, the discussion within bureaucratic circles revolves around seniority, with 1988 batch IAS officer Subodh Aggarwal, 1989 batch officers V. Srinivas, Shubhra Singh, Rajeshwar Singh, and Rohit Kumar Singh considered as potential candidates. Additionally, the names of Sanjay Malhotra (1990 batch), Sudhanshu Pant (1991 batch), Abhay Kumar, and Rajat Kumar Sharma (1992 batch) are actively circulating.
Despite Subodh Aggarwal being the senior-most after the current Chief Secretary Usha Sharma, there is speculation that the government may not favor his appointment. V. Srinivas and Shubhra Singh, though next in line based on seniority, face unique circumstances. Srinivas is currently on deputation at the Centre, and Shubhra Singh, who recently returned from a long stint in Delhi, is also under consideration.
Rohit Kumar Singh, presently on deputation at the Centre with a retirement date in March 2024, adds another dimension to the race. Notably, seniority, once a pivotal factor in Chief Secretary appointments, has seen a diminishing influence in recent times. The previous government, led by Ashok Gehlot, appointed Niranjan Arya (IAS:1989:RJ) as Chief Secretary, bypassing the seniority of 10 other IAS officers. The discretion of selecting the Chief Secretary ultimately lies with the Chief Minister, underscoring a shift from the historical reliance on seniority in this crucial decision-making process.
Vishnu S Warrier (IPS:2013:TG) has been inducted in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as Superintendent of Police (SP) for five years. According to an order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday (20.12.2023), the competent authority has approved the appointment of Mr. Warrier to the post for five years on deputation basis from the date of assumption of charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Ms. Radhika G (IPS:2012:KN) has been appointed as Assistant Director (SP level) in Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA), Hyderabad for five years. According to an order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday (21.12.2023), the competent authority has approved the appointment of Ms. Radhika G to the post for five years from the date of assumption of charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
The central government has appointed forty members (Judicial & Accountancy) to the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT). The term of appointment of 18 Judicial Members and 22 Accountant Members will be for four years or till their age of 67 years.
The list of newly appointed Judicial Members goes as follows:
The list of newly appointed Accountant Members goes as follows:
Next week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to preside over the ‘Third National Conference of Chief Secretaries‘ in the national capital. Scheduled for December 27-29 in Delhi, this conference marks a crucial initiative aimed at enhancing the collaboration between the Central and state governments.
The event is expected to draw the participation of various officials, including dynamic district collectors and magistrates from states and Union Territories, along with representatives from several Union ministries. This upcoming conference follows the second National Conference of Chief Secretaries, which took place earlier this year in Delhi on January 6 and 7.
UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit on Friday urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to appoint a new regular UT adviser. Following the retirement of former UT adviser Dharam Pal (IAS:1988:AGMUT) on October 31, the central government has not yet appointed a successor.
Presently, the UT home secretary, Nitin Kumar Yadav (IAS:2000:HY), has assumed the additional responsibility of the UT adviser. Traditionally, the central government issues orders for the appointment of a new adviser well in advance of the post becoming vacant. However, this time, the position has remained unfilled for the past two months.
The role of Adviser to the Administrator in Chandigarh, commonly known as Chief Secretary, Chandigarh, is considered one of the most influential positions within the rank of Additional Secretary in the Government of India.
Rajat Kumar Mishra (IAS:1992:RJ), Secretary, Department of Fertilizers, has been given additional charge of the post of Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (22.12.2023) the competent authority has approved the assignment of additional charge of the post to Mr. Mishra from 24.12.2023 to 31.12.2023 during the period of absence on leave of Ms. Nivedita Shukla Verma (IAS:1991:UP).
The Chhattisgarh government on Friday (22.12.2023) issued posting orders for three IAS officers from the 2021 batch, following the completion of their Phase Two training at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie. The newly appointed officers are assigned to their respective positions and are expected to serve in these roles until further orders.
The names of the officers and their postings are given below:
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