Plum posts evade tough officers in Tamil Nadu

Chennai

Except for Santhosh Babu, who took voluntary retirement to join Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam party, other senior officers have been handling insignificant posts heading Anna Institute of Management, Commissioner of Archaeology, Commissioner of Archives and Historical Research, that does not require a senior bureaucrat in the ranks of additional chief secretary or principal secretary.

“Some of the posts are specifically designed and bifurcated to designate officers, who fail to toe the political line. IPS officers are also highly prone to such transfers. Special officer refugee camp Mandapam and Tamil Nadu News Print and Paper Ltd are classic examples,” said a retired IAS officer adding that there is no need for commissioner level posts for archaeology and archives. According to Secretariat sources, two years ago, another no-nonsense IAS officer left Tamil Nadu with a heavy heart after falling out with a Tamil Nadu minister following a disagreement in awarding contracts. “Santhosh Babu’s case was the second such case and Sagayam resignation is expected any time,” informed sources said.

“Regime changes also mark the transfers of Chief Secretaries and DGPs to Egmore archaeology and Rameswaram refugee camps,” he noted. But the AIADMK which got re-elected transferred Shukla to Mandapam camp, he noted.

Meanwhile, the State government has written to the Centre seeking an extension of incumbent Chief Secretary K Shanmugham by another six months. The extension has already created a political debate between the ruling AIADMK and the opposition DMK.

The State as on date has more than 20 IAS officers in the ranks of additional chief secretaries and above, who are eligible for the coveted post of Chief Secretary.

“At the same time, the government reinstated eight district Collectors who were transferred by the Election Commission and, interestingly most of them are conferred IAS officials,” the retired bureaucrat said.