Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 28: The Appointment Committee of Cabinet (ACC) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi would shortly take a call on further extension of three months in the services of Chief Secretary BB Vyas, whose extended tenure would expire on February 28. The State Government has forwarded a proposal to the Department of Personnel and Trainings (DoPT) seeking that tenure of Vyas be extended by another three months till May 31.
Official sources said the State Government has sent a proposal to the DoPT seeking extension of three more months in the tenure of Vyas, who had taken over as the Chief Secretary of the State on April 28, 2017 from BR Sharma, who had later proceeded on the Central deputation and is presently posted as Additional Secretary in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
When approached for comments, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Incharge DoPT, Dr Jitendra Singh, told the Excelsior that extended tenure of the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, is expiring on February 28.
“We will take a call on further extension in his services in due course of time,’’ Dr Jitendra Singh said.
Sources said since this was second extension in the case of BB Vyas, the call will be taken by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet, which is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The decision (on extension of Vyas) could be taken shortly and it was likely to be favourable as Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and her Cabinet wanted services of the incumbent Chief Secretary to be utilized till it was possible under the Civil Services Rules,’’ they added.
According to sources, the State Government has made out a fool-proof case for further extending the tenure of BB Vyas by three months, in its letter forwarded to the DoPT mentioning a number of reasons in support of the extension like discretion of the State Government to utilize his services to maximum possible extent, experience in the administration, ongoing exercise of Panchayat elections, handling of situation in the State etc.
An IAS officer of 1986 batch of Indian Administrative Services (IAS), belonging to Jammu and Kashmir cadre, Vyas was due to retire from the services after having worked in various capacities, on November 30, 2017. However, on August 25, 2017, the State Government had recommended to the Department of Personnel and Trainings for extension in the services of Vyas by six months up to May 31, 2018.
On October 26, 2017, the Centre Government had granted extension of three months in the services of Vyas up to February 28, 2018 initially.
“As there was provision of six months extension in the services of the Chief Secretaries of the State by the DoPT, if desired by the State Governments, depending upon reasons cited in seeking extensions, the State Government has again approached to the DoPT through a detailed representation seeking extension of three more months in the services of Vyas,’’ sources said, adding that the DoPT was likely to concede request of the State Government, which would take services of the Chief Secretary up to May 31, 2018.
Prior to his appointment as the Chief Secretary on April 28, 2017, Vyas had held several prestigious posts in the State including Principal Secretary to Governor and Principal Secretary to three Chief Ministers—Omar Abdullah, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti.
He had been appointed as the Chief Secretary on April 28, 2017 after the State Government decided to replace BR Sharma, then Chief Secretary. Initially Sharma was appointed as Advisor to the State Government but later he had proceeded on Central deputation and is presently posted as the Additional Secretary in Union Ministry of Home Affairs. Sharma had been appointed as the Chief Secretary on September 7, 2015 by then Chief Minister late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
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