Rumors have been running thick and fast about several top-level postings as the government is seen gearing up for Elections 2019. The PM's absence from the country this week has provided enough time for speculations to turn wild.
The first phase of these rumors was born out of a fake news on April 15 about I&B Secretary N K Sinha (IAS:1980: BH) being sent on a forced leave on account of the formulation of a controversial press accreditation rule.
Officials started guessing about who could replace Sinha if he at all exits the I&B Ministry. After certain names were ruled out through a process of speculative natural selection, two candidates - Raghavendra Singh (IAS:1983: WB) and Upma Chaudhary (IAS:1983: HP) - were seen as the prominent successor to Sinha.
But this was not the end of the matter.
Earlier this week, WhatsApp messages hinted at the Union Tourism Secretary, too, being sent on a forced leave.
Even as this turned out to be untrue, another wave of speculations hit the civil services.
This time, stakes were raised to the level of Cabinet and Revenue Secretaries.
Punters felt that the two top-level posts may go to Gujarat cadre officers Hasmukh Adhia (IAS:1981: GJ) and Girish Chandra Murmu (IAS:1985: GJ). However, another extension for the current Cabinet Secretary was not ruled out
The ambit of speculation also included another term for outgoing CBDT chairman Sushil Chandra which Indianmandarins too had reported on February 23. In addition, CoS reportedly cleared three names (Adiyta Vikram, Akhilesh Ranjan, Neena Kumar and P C Modi) for member post. Indianmandarins had on December 20 last year reported it too.
However, another school of officials forecasters saw the government moving to draft Adhia into a two-year fixed tenure as Finance Secretary whereas Murmu was seen to become the next ED Chief following Karnal Singh's (IPS:1984: UT) completion of tenure and retirement in October this year.
Whatever happens, these speculations make the following points clear: that the government may be in the process of a serious recasting of the pecking order before Elections 2019; that whatever the rumors, top-level postings and transfers are done through due diligence; and that the entire process is a centralized one.
Rumors rock bureaucratic citadel
By IndianMandarins - 2018-04-20 11:36:20
Rumors have been running thick and fast about several top-level postings as the government is seen gearing up for Elections 2019. The PM's absence from the country this week has provided enough time for speculations to turn wild.
The first phase of these rumors was born out of a fake news on April 15 about I&B Secretary N K Sinha (IAS:1980: BH) being sent on a forced leave on account of the formulation of a controversial press accreditation rule.
Officials started guessing about who could replace Sinha if he at all exits the I&B Ministry. After certain names were ruled out through a process of speculative natural selection, two candidates - Raghavendra Singh (IAS:1983: WB) and Upma Chaudhary (IAS:1983: HP) - were seen as the prominent successor to Sinha.
But this was not the end of the matter.
Earlier this week, WhatsApp messages hinted at the Union Tourism Secretary, too, being sent on a forced leave.
Even as this turned out to be untrue, another wave of speculations hit the civil services.
This time, stakes were raised to the level of Cabinet and Revenue Secretaries.
Punters felt that the two top-level posts may go to Gujarat cadre officers Hasmukh Adhia (IAS:1981: GJ) and Girish Chandra Murmu (IAS:1985: GJ). However, another extension for the current Cabinet Secretary was not ruled out
The ambit of speculation also included another term for outgoing CBDT chairman Sushil Chandra which Indianmandarins too had reported on February 23. In addition, CoS reportedly cleared three names (Adiyta Vikram, Akhilesh Ranjan, Neena Kumar and P C Modi) for member post. Indianmandarins had on December 20 last year reported it too.
However, another school of officials forecasters saw the government moving to draft Adhia into a two-year fixed tenure as Finance Secretary whereas Murmu was seen to become the next ED Chief following Karnal Singh's (IPS:1984: UT) completion of tenure and retirement in October this year.
Whatever happens, these speculations make the following points clear: that the government may be in the process of a serious recasting of the pecking order before Elections 2019; that whatever the rumors, top-level postings and transfers are done through due diligence; and that the entire process is a centralized one.
