Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 17: The Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) has for the first time amended Civil Services Rules to grant extension to State Chief Secretary BB Vyas for another one year beyond May 31 when his twice extended tenure by a total of six months was due to expire.
So far, the Chief Secretaries of the States were granted maximum extension of six months only for which there was a provision in the Civil Services Rules but it was used under “exceptional circumstances” pointed out by the State Governments.
Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Incharge DoPT, Dr Jitendra Singh told the Excelsior that keeping in view the peculiar circumstances prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir and giving due weightage to the request made by the State Government, the DoPT deliberated on the issue of extension of BB Vyas and conceded the State Government proposal.
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“The tenure of Vyas has been extended by another one year after carrying out necessary amendments in the Civil Services Rules,” Dr Jitendra Singh said, adding that to amend the rules, the DoPT took approval of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
The DoPT Minister said as soon as the PMO approval for amendment in the Civil Services Rules was received, an order was issued to grant extension of one year to Vyas. “Now, the incumbent Chief Secretary in J&K can continue on the post till May 31, 2019,” he added.
“The tenure of Vyas has been extended from June 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019,” Dr Jitendra Singh said.
Sources said some names of senior IAS officers from Jammu and Kashmir and outside the State were discussed for the post of the State Chief Secretary before granting one year extension to Vyas.
As per the Civil Services Rules, only Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary, Defence Secretary and Foreign Secretary can have fixed term of two years. As far as the Chief Secretaries of the States are concerned, they can be granted maximum extension of six months in the services and that two under “rare circumstances”, which have to be mentioned by the State Governments while seeking such extensions.
Vyas had already been granted two extensions of three months each.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had written to the DoPT early this month seeking extension of one more year in the services of BB Vyas. The DoPT has fully accepted the Chief Minister’s proposal by extending the term of Vyas by one year.
The DoPT order has cleared the uncertainty over continuation of Vyas beyond May 31. Significantly, the order to grant him extension came just two day before the one-day visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Jammu and Kashmir.
An IAS officer of 1986 batch of Indian Administrative Services (IAS), belonging to Jammu and Kashmir cadre, Vyas was due to retire from the services after having worked in various capacities, on November 30, 2017. However, on August 25, 2017, the State Government had recommended to the Department of Personnel and Trainings for extension in the services of Vyas by six months up to May 31, 2018.
On October 26, 2017, the Centre Government had granted extension of three months in the services of Vyas up to February 28, 2018 initially. Later, the term was extended by another three months till May 31, 2018.
Prior to his appointment as the Chief Secretary on April 28, 2017, Vyas had held several prestigious posts in the State including Principal Secretary to Governor and Principal Secretary to three Chief Ministers-Omar Abdullah, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti.
He had been appointed as the Chief Secretary on April 28, 2017 after the State Government decided to replace BR Sharma, then Chief Secretary. Initially Sharma was appointed as Advisor to the State Government but later he had proceeded on Central deputation and is presently posted as the Additional Secretary in Union Ministry of Home Affairs. Sharma had been appointed as the Chief Secretary on September 7, 2015 by then Chief Minister late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
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