CALL it sheer talent or influence of numerological calculation, 1972 batch bureaucrats have continuously scripted success stories in occupying key government posts. With Shiv Shankar Menon, a 1972 batch retired Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer getting picked up for the coveted post of national security adviser (NSA) in place of MK Narayanan, and the next cabinet secretary in all probability is going to be a 1972 batch IAS, the journey of the men of that batch in securing important posts may continue for sometime more.
In fact, 1972 batch civil service topper and former finance secretary Dr D Subbarao of Andhra Pradesh cadre was already appointed as the 22nd Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, and two of his batch-mates, GK Pillai of Kerala cadre and Pradeep Kumar of Haryana cadre are India’s home and defence secretaries respectively for a period of two years.
As two of the senior IAS of 1972 batch will continue as secretaries in two of the most important ministries, home and defence, the government is unlikely to spring a surprise and appoint someone from 1973 batch (finance secretary Ashok Chawla is a contender) as the next cabinet secretary when current incumbent KM Chandrasekhar, a 1970 batch Kerala cadre IAS, is retiring in mid-June this year. Urban development secretary M Ramachandran, a 1972 batch Kerala cadre IAS is the top contender so far, but there is a rumour doing the rounds that the appointment for the next cabinet secretary could be advanced by a fortnight so as to facilitate Planning Commission secretary and 1972 batch Kerala cadre IAS Sudha Pillai becoming the India’s first woman cabinet secretary. Ms Pillai is retiring on May 31, 2010 , but once appointed, she would get a fixed tenure of two years.
There are a few other officers of the batch including Central Information Commissioner and former Information and Broadcasting secretary Sushma Singh, who have managed decent post-retirement postings. Interestingly, the only high profile officer of 1972 batch who has not secured any key post so far is former IPS Kiran Bedi. Action and Appointments
a) AK Mangotra, a 1978 batch Manipur-Tripura cadre IAS and presently additional secretary and financial adviser in the department of food and public distribution has been appointed as additional secretary in the department of commerce in place of R Gopalan, a 1976 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS.
b) Desh Deepak Verma, a 1978 batch UP cadre IAS and presently in the cadre, has been appointed as additional secretary and financial adviser in the department of food and public distribution.
c) The proposal of the department of AYUSH for the extension of Central deputation tenure of B Anand, a 1987 bacth Tamil Nadu cadre IAS, as Joint Secretary in that department beyond January 30, 2010 has been rejected.
d) The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the period of overstay of AK Dubey, a 1982 batch Kerala cadre IAS, for the period from April 19, 2008 to March 4, 2009, while on deputation to Delhi University as Registrar, as a deputation under Rule 6 (1) of the IAS (cadre) Rules 1954 (deputation under Non-Central Staffing Scheme) on ex-post facto basis.
Some of the 1972 batch officers are extremely talented too. RBI Governor D Subbarao, for example, is an ex-IITian and is probably one of the first IITians to get into IAS
ReplyDeleteLet us not forgot Mr. Vinod Rai - the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). In the current season of scams and revelations, I believe Mr. Rai to be India's most powerful, responsive and responsible bureaucrat.
ReplyDeleteCheers