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| J&K likely to get new Chief Secretary soon, Goswami top contender | | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, Oct 9: Jammu and Kashmir government is under intense pressure to search for an appropriate replacement of Chief Secretary Madhav Lal.
So who will replace Madhav Lal? Obviously, no one can be sure till the orders actually come out. Early Times has learnt from credible government sources that change is imminent and the process would be completed by the end of November 2011. They said that at number 1, the perennially popular name from the "Kashmiri son-of-the-soil" point of view is that of Iqbal Khandey.
A 1978 batch direct recruit IAS, Iqbal is not the senior most officer after Madhav Lal, in fact he comes at number 4. However, there is no Kashmiri Muslim IAS officer above him or till 5 steps below him. Sources disclosed that if the government goes by the Indian scheme of things of finding only Muslims to head the administration, police or the judiciary in J&K, claim of Iqbal would be very strong.
These sources said that the only problem is openly declared proximity with the principal opposition party. They maintain that if he ever becomes the Chief Secretary, that will be a very embarrassing feather in the cap of the beleaguered J&K administration especially after the recent controversy over the murder of NC worker.
Sources averred that in this case, it should bring alive superior claims of Parvez Dewan, a 1977 batch son-of-the-soil IAS officer, who is not only next in seniority to Madhav, but way above in experience in all three regions of J&K i.e. he was SDM Zanskar, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Jammu and Divisional Commissioner Kashmir.
They stressed that in vision and intellect too, Parvez Dewan towers over the current incumbent. Administrative sources disclosed that with an extremely friendly and outgoing personality, Parvez is well-liked across the political spectrum. However, lately he has taken to writing books with a passion that he is very reluctant to give up. Besides, Parvez has been empanelled as Secretary in government of India and hence, would not like to return to the state at this crucial juncture.
The number 3 in seniority is the 1978 batch Anil Goswami, another son-of-the-soil IAS officer. Currently serving in the Union Home Ministry as Additional Secretary, Anil has handled almost every top position in Jammu and Kashmir, including that of the Secretary to Governor or the Secretary to the Chief Minister (CM).
Just as the entire Kashmir valley would be behind the candidature of Iqbal Khandey, the entire Jammu region across the political spectrum is supposed to support Anil Goswami. With his empanelment as Secretary in government of India is expected to be announced any day, sources said that Anil should have no other personal business left to attend to in Delhi, and so should be immediately available to take up the job of Chief Secretary.
At number 5 and 6 in seniority are the 1979 batch Arun and Sonali Kumar. Both for purely personal reasons have chosen to remove themselves away from J&K and so are not available for this crucial assignment. Sources claimed that the choice, therefore, is most likely to be between Parvez Dewan and Anil Goswami. And if sources are to be believed, the dice has already been cast in favour of Anil Goswami.
They maintain that government would give an honorable exit to Madhav Lal. Sources said that seeing the writing on the wall, Madhav Lal is trying very hard to get himself empanelled in government of India so that he can get a Secretary level post there. But if that doesn't happen, the only honorable exit for him in J&K is the office of the Chairman Special Tribunal or Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC).
This is the only post, where because of the nature of its job, which is a little like that of the Chief Justice, he can afford not to attend any meetings called by the Chief Secretary or even the Ministers.
To be continued |
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