Controversial IAS Anjaneya Kumar Singh’s UP deputation ends; proceeds on leave

The controversial Uttar Pradesh IAS officer, Anjaneya Kumar Singh (IAS:2005:SK), has proceeded on leave after being denied further extension. After remaining Moradabad Commissioner for a record five and a half years and getting seven extensions in a row, his deputation tenure finally ended on Friday (Aug 14).

Singh had assumed charge as the Commissioner of Moradabad Division on March 6, 2021 and set a record of being the first IAS officer in the state to serve as Commissioner in a single commissionerate for such a long time.

The end of his extension has given rise to speculation regarding his reassignment. The bureaucratic circle is awaiting a new order.

Anjaneya Kumar Singh shot into limelight during his tenure as the Rampur District Magistrate (DM) due to his action against heavyweight SP leader Azam Khan. The case of the demolition order for 38 buildings of Azam Khan’s Jauhar University was being heard in his court as Moradabad Commissioner.  

He was the same officer due to whom Azam Khan lost his MLA post in 2019 over a hate speech. At that time, he was the Rampur DM.

Interestingly, the IAS officer had come to Uttar Pradesh in 2015 during the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party govt on a five-year deputation, but his career flourished after Yogi Adityanath came to power. That is perhaps the reason why he spent only eight years in his original Sikkim cadre but spent around 11 years of service in UP.

After being appointed as Rampur DM, Singh got an extension for the first time in February 2020 during Yogi regime.

Singh, then, became the Commissioner of Moradabad division assuming its charge on 6 March 2021 and his tenure was extended for a year every year barring 2024, when it was extended twice for six months each. His tenure was extended for the seventh time in 2025, which is a rare example in administrative rules.

It is important to mention here that as no IAS officer can remain on deputation for more than five years, it was the extensions that ensured his presence in UP. Now, the only apparent option left before Singh is the cadre change that seems unlikely.