Amit Khare likely to be next Jharkhand CS

Shashank Shekhar

Ranchi ( Jharkhand) : Speculations in political circles notwithstanding, there is little  possibility of Jharkhand Chief Secretary Rajbala Verma, a 1983 batch IAS officer, getting an extension after her retirement as the state government has reportedly served on a notice on her in connection with a fodder scam case of East Singhbhum  in which RJD chief Lalu Prasad was recently convicted and sentenced to 42 months of imprisonment. She has held the post of DC, East Singhbhum, in the past.

Two senior bureaucrats of Jharkhand : 1984 batch  IAS Rajeev Kumar, serving as Additional Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India, and 1985 batch IAS Amit Khare, at present Development Commissioner, Jharkhand, have emerged as the strong contenders for the post of Jharkhand Chief Secretary (CS). B K Tripathy, a 1983 batch IAS officer and Member, Board of Revenue, is also in the race. Though  Tripathy, who retires on August 31, 2019, is the senior most among the trio but as he doest not appear to be favourite of  Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das and has mostly remained sidelined.

Chief Secretary Rajbala Verma is retiring on February 28, 2018. Rajiv Gauba, a 1982 batch IAS and Union Home Secretary, is the senior most IAS of Jharkhand who retires on August 31, 2019.

As Amit Khare commands respect in bureaucratic circle for his honesty and being the whistle blower  of animal husbandry scam  besides being blue eyed boy of the chief minister, who has given him a very important  department , Khare definitely has an edge over other contenders.Though Rajiv is serving as Additional Ssecretary at Centre and retires on February 20, 2020, but he has mostly been on central deputation.

Amit Khare, on the other hand, retires on September 30, 2021, and can better suit the present state government for long term developmental planning of Jharkhand.  “It is almost certain that Khare  will be the next CS,” said a senior bureaucrat.