by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
Uncertainty over next Cabinet Secretary continues
Rajiv Gauba tops the race
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, July 25
With the appointment of Ajay Bhalla as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Union Home Ministry, the spot light has shifted on the next Cabinet Secretary. It was widely speculated that the government will also announce the road map for the next Cabinet Secretary as current incumbent P K Sinha retires on September 12 after serving for more than four years. P K Sinha was even given an extra-ordernary extension of three months in June which surprised bureaucracy watchers. It was felt that if the government wanted to promote present Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba as the next Cabinet Secretary it could have done it straight way by appointing him as the OSD. But the delay occurred as the government was not sure who should be the next Home Secretary. The new Home Minister Amit Shah was new in his job and wanted time to understand the functioning of the Home Ministry. He wanted Rajiv Gauba to stay for a couple of months in the Home Ministry as part of the continuity and updating. Having accomplished the task in the home ministry, it was expected that orders for Gauba's promotion to the Cabinet Secretary as OSD would be issued. However, these sources say that Gauba's orders may still come within the next three to four weeks once Dr Ajay Bhalla gets adequate experience to take over as Home Secretary next month. Ajay Bhalla made his mark in the Power Secretary by ensuring that power is supplied to each village of the country. The Prime Minister was particularly happy with his performance and reportedly selected him for the Home ministry.
Bureaucrats are keeping their fingers crossed as no one is sure who will be the next Cabinet Secretary. Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundaram who was also in the reckoning for promotion as Cabinet Secretary is also set to retire on August 31 as her successor has also been named. It is also clear that P K Sinha who was given extraordinary extension in June will not get another extension. But uncertainty continues for some more time.
