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By Jaykishan Sharma: As Rajasthan’s Chief Secretary Usha Sharma is set to retire on June 30, the state government has begun its search for her replacement. Veenu Gupta, the senior most woman IAS officer, is being considered as a strong contender for the post.
If appointed, Veenu Gupta will be the third woman Chief Secretary in the state’s history. However, she faces competition from two other women IAS officers. There is also speculation about whether Usha Sharma will receive an extension or not.
The search for the new Chief Secretary has been complicated by the fact that six of the top 10 senior IAS officers in Rajasthan are on deputation to Delhi. The process of seeking back the services of any IAS officer on deputation to Delhi is a long one, requiring the consent of both the central and state governments. As a result, IAS officers posted in Delhi are no longer considered involved in the race.
At present, there are 16 IAS officers as Additional Chief Secretaries in Rajasthan’s bureaucracy, all from the 1993 batch. The Chief Secretary must be in the rank of Additional Chief Secretary, according to the rules. No Principal Government Secretary, Government Secretary, junior rank, or any promoted IAS officer can be made Chief Secretary.
Rajasthan made history in 2009 when Kushal Singh became the state’s first woman Chief Secretary. Ashok Gehlot was the chief minister at the time. Again in January 2022, Gehlot made Usha Sharma the Chief Secretary of the state.
Meanwhile, the retirement of Veenu Gupta, who is considered the top contender for the chief secretary post, is also set to happen in December 2023. With only seven-eight months left for the assembly elections, CM Gehlot has the opportunity to once again hand over the highest chair of bureaucracy to a woman IAS officer, reflecting the spirit of women empowerment.
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