Thaindian News

New Delhi, May 15 (IANS) A near overhaul of the top brass of the Indian bureaucracy is on the anvil as a spate of retirements of top secretaries starts at the end of May.

It will leave the government with the tough task of appointing seven secretaries, including the cabinet secretary as incumbent K.M. Chandrashekhar is retiring June 30. Five other top secretaries are also superannuating between May-end and July, creating seven vacancies, as finance secretary Sushma Nath is holding additional charge of expenditure secretary.

There is speculation that Chandrashekhar may get another extension, but according to top sources he has refused. Ajit Kumar Seth, who is currently secretary, public grievances and coordination, in the cabinet secretariat, is a front-runner for the post, the sources told IANS.

Seth, the senior-most empanelled 1974 batch officer, is emerging as the top choice because of his seniority and clean image, they said.

The rush of retirements is to start with revenue secretary Sunil Mitra followed by Nath May 31.

Home Secretary G.K. Pillai is to retire June 30. Sources said Pillai was also offered an extension but has refused.

Next to retire will be Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar and Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao. Rao was supposed to retire in December 2010 but was given an extension till July this year.

The sources said the government was also considering filling up the post of information technology secretary that has been lying vacant for long.

Add to that the task of selection of a new central vigilance commissioner (CVC) necessitated by the exit of P.J. Thomas in March following controversy over a corruption case.

The sources said the department of personnel and training (DoPT) will soon shortlist candidates for the post. They said the DoPT has received suggestions on the new CVC from senior secretary-rank officials in the government.

(Sarwar Kashani can be contacted at s.kashani@ians.in)