Senior Tamil Nadu cadre officers are not at all amused by the state government's move to further extend the tenure of Chief Secretary K Shanmugam (IAS:1985:TN). For them, the move is seen as casting doubts on their ability and blocking the opportunity of one of them to become the CS.

Currently, TN has 30 IAS officers in the additional chief secretary rank. Four of them are deployed as secretaries to the Central government.

Shanmugam's term is said to have been extended twice already. The first time, when the state government sought an extension of tenure for him, it was for one year. But the center granted approval for only three months. In the second letter seeking his extension, after the end of the first extension, the state government again pleaded for one more year for him. But only three months were granted. Now, in the third letter, the government has requested a six-month extension.

The 1985 batch CS's extended tenure is scheduled to end on January 31.

The state government's reasoning for seeking a further extension for him is Shanmugam's critical role in Covid management in the state.

(By Rakesh Ranjan)

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