New Delhi (07.08.2023): The NaMo 0.2 Administration on August 3, 2023 extended the tenure of Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba (IAS: 1982: JH) for one more year i.e. up to 30.08.2024. This was the third extension in a row, probably making him the longest serving Union CS. The fourth extension to Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla (IAS: 1984: AM) also makes him the second Union HS to complete five years in the office after Lallan Prasad Singh who had served for more than six years up to January 1971.
ED’s extension, a prelude to others extensions:
The Centre’s longing for extension to its trusted and tested men was made obvious when it approached SC seeking extension to ED Chief SK Mishra (IRS IT: 1984) beyond July 31. It made observers clear in their minds that Mishra’s extension was just a precursor to extensions of CS and HS. All three were given extensions in continuity to their services by almost similar manner i.e. by extraordinary measures and relaxing rules. However, this has marred aspirations of officers of batches up to 1986
Ceasing the hope and aspirations:
Every political dispensation has its own plan and interest but bureaucracy has its professional aspirations. In individual terms, IAS officers cracking Civil Services at younger age with ranks aspire to join the race for the coveted position whereas in collective terms they wish to have their own batch mates as CS or HS.
Up to 2014, three years’ term was considered to be good enough for posts like CS and HS and by this yardstick, the ten years term of NaMo government would have brought opportunity for several batches as CS and HS but except for a brief stint of Ajay Kumar Seth (1974) as CS and L C Goyal (1979) as HS only officers capturing the imagination of the New Delhi dispensation are P K Sinha (1977) and Rajiv Gauba as CS and Rajiv Mehershi (1978) and A K Bhalla as Home Secretary.
LS Polls 2024, key to extensions?
Why did the Cabinet Secretary and Home Secretary get extensions for consecutive terms? A section of senior most bureaucrats finds 2024 LS Polls as the sole reason for it. In addition, the Gujarat Model has always been relied upon for retaining tested people.
In fact, any political dispensation prefers continuity and synergy especially ahead of the Lok Sabha Polls. Evidently, close to endless electoral campaigns with little time for administrative affairs, the NaMo 0.2 too preferred seamless synergy between MHA, Cabinet Secretariat and Election Commission of India. With batch mates Rajiv Kumar (Retd IAS: 1984: JH) as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), A K Bhalla as HS and cadre mates CS and CEC would make it a dependable formation for the New Delhi establishment. Having turned exceptions into norms by all possible means; be it revising orders retrospectively, ordinances or relaxation in rules almost everyone among who’s who expected the extension to the tenure of CS and HS was on cards.
(By Rakesh Ranjan)
