The power corridors of Lucknow are abuzz with speculation over the fate of senior IAS officer Anjaneya Kumar Singh (1995 batch, Sikkim cadre). His inter-cadre deputation to Uttar Pradesh, which expired on August 14, 2025, has already been extended multiple times, and the big question is whether he will secure yet another term.
Mr. Singh, who was serving as Commissioner of Moradabad, proceeded on leave after handing over charge to the District Magistrate. Interestingly, no successor has been appointed yet, and his nameplate remains on the commissioner’s office — fuelling talk of another extension.
An Unprecedented Tenure
Brought to Uttar Pradesh in 2015 during Akhilesh Yadav’s tenure as Chief Minister, Anjaneya Kumar Singh was initially deputed for five years. Since then, his stay has been repeatedly extended — including one two-year extension, two one-year extensions, and two six-month extensions. If granted another year, this would mark the sixth extension, taking his deputation to over a decade — double the period allowed under existing rules.
As per the All India Services (Inter-Cadre Deputation) Rules, 2004, the maximum deputation permissible is five years. Extensions beyond that are not normally allowed. Yet, Singh’s tenure in Uttar Pradesh has already stretched to ten years, making it a rare precedent in IAS cadre management.
Rise to Prominence
Although he came to UP during the Samajwadi Party regime, Singh rose to prominence under the BJP government when he took strong action against senior SP leader Azam Khan as District Magistrate of Rampur. His strict enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections — including cases against Azam Khan and his son Abdullah Azam — drew wide attention. Based on Singh’s report, the Election Commission cancelled Abdullah Azam’s assembly membership. His investigations also played a role in Azam Khan’s imprisonment.
This tough stance won Singh the goodwill of the BJP, which has since ensured repeated extensions of his deputation in the state.
What Next?
The Yogi Adityanath government has reportedly recommended another one-year extension for Singh, and the file is now with the Centre. Whether he will be “sixth-time lucky” remains to be seen, but his career in Uttar Pradesh already stands out as a unique case in Indian bureaucracy.
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