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| Madhav plans to retire in New Delhi; Khanday, Goswami line up for top job | | J&K to search for new Chief Secretary! | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, Dec 15: With Madhav Lal planning to spend remaining years of Government service in New Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir Government has initiated the process of finding a new Chief Secretary to head the state bureaucracy.
Sources said that Chief Minister has assented to relieving Madhav Lal, a 1977 batch IAS officer of his duties as Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, as and when he finds space in New Delhi. So far, Madhav Lal has been unable to find a posting commensurate to his expertise, experience, administrative efficiency and intellectual worth. He is likely to find some space in Delhi by or before March 2013.
A man of integrity, Madhav Lal has, according to certain officers close to him preferred going by book rather than by merit and efficiency. Despite complaints of serious nature reaching his office, sources said that Madhav Lal has in most of the cases preferred seeking reports, ordering inquiries while allowing accused to remain stationed at his place of posting. Despite these visible shortcomings, sources said that Chief Minister did not allow him leave the state a year earlier.
Madhav Lal's deputation news has re-ignited hopes of three top IAS officers of being considered for the critical and prestigious job. These three officers include 1977 batch IAS officer Parvez Dewan, 1978 batch officers Anil Goswami and Iqbal Khanday. Of these three, Financial Commissioner (FC) Finance Iqbal Khanday has the brightest chances of succeeding the incumbent Chief Secretary.
About Parvez Dewan, sources said that he is unlikely to take up the assignment since he wants an assurance from state Government of being rehabilitated after his retirement in October 2014. Dewan is currently Secretary to the Union Ministry of Tourism. He has not returned to Jammu and Kashmir since April 2006 when he was cleared for deputation to New Delhi. He was also Secretary to the Union External Affairs Ministry for about a year.
Dewan is closely followed by Anil Goswami. A 1978 batch IAS officer, Goswami is senior to Iqbal Khanday and is presently, Secretary to the Department of Justice and Empowerment in New Delhi. Regarded as low key posting, sources said that Goswami is awaiting a call from the state Government. They added that Goswami's experience and ability to get the administration moving even with little or no impetus from the political dispensation does weigh in his favour but the impression of him being close to ex-Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad may act as spoiler.
Goswami has the distinction of having served in the Union Home Ministry for over two years from April 2010 to July 2012. He was Principal Secretary to ex-Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. During his stint with Azad, Goswami within short span of time earned the title of being 'tightlipped, clever and politically correct bureaucrat' among his colleagues, something which is presently associated with B.B. Vyas, the present Principal Secretary of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Goswami’s short tenure is another thing which would not disallow Chief Minister Omar Abdullah from considering him for the top job. He would be retiring in January 2015. Goswami is followed by Pankaj Jain, another 1978 batch IAS officer. He is on central deputation since January 2010 and presently, Secretary in the Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. Jain would be retiring in September 2014 i.e. months before Goswami and Iqbal Khanday would be superannuating.
After Jain, senior IAS officer find Iqbal Khanday fitting choice for top job. Several factors weigh heavily in Khanday. Khanday is 1978 batch IAS officer and would be retiring in November 2015 i.e. 5 months after Madhav Lal's retirement in June 2015, a year after Parvez Dewan's retirement in October 2014, 10 months after Anil Goswami's superannuation and around 14 months after Pankaj Jain’s farewell party.
Apart from being youngest of the top five serving bureaucrats of Jammu and Kashmir cadre, Khanday has respect across board for his professional integrity. Despite facing rough weather for more than 6 years, Government had no choice but to reward Khanday with posting as FC (Finance). Known widely for his quick administrative decision making ability, sources said that Khanday is likely to succeed Madhav Lal. "He is fine officer, a man of immense caliber," a Cabinet Minister responded when asked about the Khanday being considered for the top job. |
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