The Hindu : New Delhi News : Regunathan appointed new Chief Secretary

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 26, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Regunathan appointed new Chief Secretary

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JUNE 25. The Union Home Ministry today appointed the 1968 batch Indian Administrative Service officer S. Regunathan as the new Chief Secretary of Delhi.

At present holding the post of Secretary (Animal Husbandry) in the Union Government, Mr. Regunathan would replace Shailja Chandra, who is retiring on June 30. Ms. Chandra is tipped to head the Public Grievances Commission after her retirement.

Though several officers were in the race, Mr. Regunathan was widely expected to be elevated to the post given that he was the first choice of the Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit. Mr. Regunathan had worked as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister for almost five years before going on Central deputation only recently.

Ms. Dikshit is believed to have discussed the matter with the Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, recently and is learnt to have argued that induction of Mr. Regunathan would mean continuity in the working of the Delhi Government as he was updated and acquainted with the functioning of the Government and its policies, priorities and programmes.

Among the other aspirants for the post of the Chief Secretary were the Secretary (Water Resources), V.K. Duggal, who is believed to have lobbied hard with the Chief Minister, and S.P. Aggarwal, posted as Principal Secretary (Health) in the Delhi Government.

The appointment of Mr. Regunathan would now pave the way for a major bureaucratic reshuffle in the Delhi Administration.

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