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Major bureaucratic reshuffle in the offing

By Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI DEC. 22. With the new Council of Ministers in place, the Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, is understood to be preparing for a major reshuffle in the bureaucratic set-up. This has become all the more important due to the fact that a large number of senior Indian Administrative Officers (IAS) serving in the Delhi Government have overstayed their tenure in the Capital and would have to be posted to other States whenever such changes are effected in the administration.

Heading the list of such senior officials who have stayed put in the Capital due to political backing or their proximity to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs is the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, S. Regunathan. In fact, Mr. Regunathan has been with the Chief Minister for more than five years and had also worked in the previous BJP Government. He is followed by B. Prasad, Secretary to the Lieutenant-Governor. Other such officials include the Chairman of the SC/ST Financial Corporation, S. Targey, Sales Tax Commissioner, Rahul Khullar, Divisional Commissioner, Sindhushree Khullar, Principal Secretary (Education), Narinder Prasad, and Kiran Dhingra. "Whenever postings and transfers are effected, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs would have to keep the long tenures of these officials in mind. A number of senior officials, who have served their tenure in other States, are looking for a posting in Delhi," a senior official remarked.

In addition, the Secretary (General Administration Department), Sumati Mehta, has been posted to Chandigarh rendering the post vacant. Two new officers, Reena Ray and Arvind Ray, are also joining the Delhi Government. While Ms. Ray was the Secretary (Finance), Mr. Ray was the Secretary (Education) with the Goa Government before their transfer to Delhi.

It is understood that a preliminary exercise for changes in the bureaucracy has already been completed and discussions at higher levels are in progress. Apart from this, the issue of appointing a regular chairman for the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) is also on the agenda as the present NDMC Chairman, R. Narayanaswami, is there as a temporary arrangement. A number of names have been shortlisted for this purpose and a final decision is likely to be made very soon by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Delhi Lieutenant-Governor in consultation with the Chief Minister. Similarly, the Sheila Dikshit Government is on the look-out for a new Transport Commissioner. This has been made necessary as the projects and activities of the Transport Department had come to a virtual standstill under the present incumbent, G.S. Patnaik. The ruling Congress Government is keen on putting somebody who is dynamic, pro-active and is able to push ahead with reforms in this sector, in this important job. It has already stated that Transport Department would be the priority area for the Government during the next five years.

The Sheila Dikshit Government is also looking for a change of guard in the Sales Tax Department in view of the continued poor performance in the revenue sector. The Government is also scouting for a new Divisional Commissioner as Ms. Khullar is expected to be given some other posting by the Government in Delhi or outside.

However, some of the officials, not wanting a posting in some other Union Territory cadre State, are pulling strings to ensure that either they are taken on Central Government deputation or they manage to join some international organisation. Now that the dust has settled on the formation of the Government and the Ministers have assumed office, a change in the official set-up is the next thing on the cards. It is understood that some of the Ministers have also sought deployment of certain officers of their choice in order to ensure a smooth working environment and relationship.

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