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.
