Early TImes Report
Jammu, Jan 30 : With the incumbent Madhav Lal's name having been cleared for appointment as Secretary to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Govt of India, the stage is all set for appointment of a new Chief Secretary.
Sources said that Lal, who had already intimated the Department of Personnel and Trainings (DoPT) that he was available for the appointment as Secretary with the Union Government, will replace Vivek Rai, a 1978 batch IAS officer, who has been posted as new Petroleum Secretary with the Central Government reportedly, having given its nod to the proposal.However, when contacted, Chief Secretary Madhav Lal expressed ignorance over the development. "I don't know and I have got no information on this so far. I am in Delhi and will be returning to Jammu on Thursday", Lal said.
The state government has already conveyed it's no objection to Government of India in sparing any top job for him. Lal was empanelled as Secretary to GoI last year and has been keen to move out of the State. However, he had to wait for a suitable position to fall vacant in the centre.
With Lal's appointment with the union government, Jammu and Kashmir government is believed to be actively considering the name of 1978 batch IAS officer, Muhammad Iqbal Khanday for the coveted post, who is believed to be the lone contender for the top position.
According to sources, the only IAS officer of 1977 batch in the JK Cadre, Parvez Dewan having shown no interest in returning to the state, is followed by Anil Goswami and Pankaj Jain officers of 1978 batch as far as seniority and service for the post are concerned. "The state government has not initiated any steps for their repatriation from the Union Government", the sources added claiming that Khanday is almost certain to succeed Madhav Lal whose term as Chief Secretary ends this month.
"The government does not seem to have any other option at this point of time," sources said, claiming that the state chief minister and most of the cabinet ministers were in favour of Khanday's appointment to the post of CS.
The sources said the name of Khanday will come up for discussion in the upcoming cabinet meeting to be held here shortly and in all likelihood will be approved to replace the incumbent Madhav Lal. |
