Lucknow: Aunjaneya Kumar Singh, the 2005-batch IAS officer who gained prominence for his strict administrative actions against Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan during his tenure as Rampur District Magistrate, has not received an extension of his inter-cadre deputation to Uttar Pradesh.
Singh’s current deputation term ended on Friday. Following the completion of his tenure, he handed over charge as Divisional Commissioner, Moradabad, to Moradabad District Magistrate Dr Rajendra Pensia and proceeded on leave.
The development comes as the Uttar Pradesh government is yet to take a final decision on a proposal seeking another extension for the Sikkim-cadre officer.
No Extension Yet for Aunjaneya Kumar Singh
The Appointment and Personnel Department has reportedly submitted a proposal to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath seeking an extension of Singh’s deputation in Uttar Pradesh.
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However, the proposal has not yet received the Chief Minister’s approval.
If the state government approves the proposal, it would subsequently be forwarded to the Central Government. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) would then process the matter and seek the required approval before an extension order is issued.
Until that process is completed, Singh’s current deputation has ended.
Consequently, he has handed over the charge of Moradabad Commissioner and proceeded on leave.
Moradabad DM Dr Rajendra Pensia Gets Charge
Following Singh’s departure, Dr Rajendra Pensia, the Moradabad District Magistrate, has been entrusted with the charge of Divisional Commissioner, Moradabad, as an interim arrangement.
The arrangement ensures administrative continuity in the division while the government decides Singh’s future posting and the pending deputation-extension proposal.
Singh had been serving as the Divisional Commissioner of Moradabad since August 28, 2025, following his earlier tenure in the division.
Who Is IAS Aunjaneya Kumar Singh?
Aunjaneya Kumar Singh is a 2005-batch IAS officer originally belonging to the Sikkim cadre.
Born on July 31, 1976, Singh hails from Salabad village in Mau district of Uttar Pradesh.
He holds a B.A. degree from Purvanchal University, Jaunpur, studied at Banaras Hindu University, and completed his M.A. in English from Purvanchal University.
Before entering the civil services, Singh reportedly worked briefly as a journalist. He cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2005 and joined the Indian Administrative Service.
Although his parent cadre is Sikkim, a substantial part of his later career has been spent serving in Uttar Pradesh on inter-cadre deputation.
From Eight Years in Sikkim to 11 Years in Uttar Pradesh
One of the unusual aspects of Singh’s career is the length of his association with Uttar Pradesh.
The 2005-batch officer spent around eight years in his original Sikkim cadre, while his service in Uttar Pradesh has extended to approximately 11 years.
He moved to Uttar Pradesh on inter-cadre deputation in 2015.
Since then, he has occupied several important administrative positions in the state and received a series of extensions that allowed him to continue serving in Uttar Pradesh.
According to the information available, Singh has received seven consecutive extensions of his deputation.
How Did Singh Come to Uttar Pradesh?
Singh’s move to Uttar Pradesh dates back to the Samajwadi Party government led by Akhilesh Yadav.
In 2015, following a recommendation from then Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, the Akhilesh Yadav government wrote to the Centre seeking Singh’s deputation to Uttar Pradesh.
Singh subsequently continued in the state through successive extensions.
Later, the Yogi Adityanath government also recommended extensions of his deputation, allowing him to remain in Uttar Pradesh for several more years.
This made Singh an unusual example of an officer whose deputation was supported by different political administrations in the state.
Singh’s Rise to Prominence in Rampur
Singh became widely known across Uttar Pradesh after being appointed District Magistrate of Rampur on February 19, 2019.
His tenure coincided with a period of intense political and administrative activity in Rampur, where senior SP leader Azam Khan wielded considerable political influence.
During his tenure, Singh initiated a series of actions involving alleged encroachments, government property and administrative violations.
His actions brought him into direct confrontation with issues involving properties and institutions associated with Azam Khan.
The Urdu Gate Demolition
One of the cases Singh has spoken about involved the Urdu Gate, which had been constructed on a PWD road in Rampur.
According to Singh’s account, he retrieved the relevant file after the matter came before him and found that an earlier District Magistrate had already ordered the structure’s demolition after completing the required hearing process.
He subsequently directed the SDM, PWD officials and police personnel to implement the order.
The structure was subsequently demolished.
Government Power Substation at Jauhar University
Another case involved a government electricity substation at Jauhar University.
The substation had reportedly been constructed on government land using public funds. However, according to the account, access to the facility had become restricted because it was enclosed within the boundary of the university.
Singh ordered action to ensure that the government facility was freed from the alleged encroachment and that public access to the substation was restored.
Unani Hospital Land and Rampur Public School
A third major matter involved land belonging to a Unani Hospital, on which Rampur Public School was operating.
During the investigation, officials reportedly found discrepancies between the land officially shown for the school and the land on which the school had actually been constructed.
The school was reportedly shown as operating on land leased from Madrasa Alia, while the administration found that the structure stood on land associated with the Unani Hospital.
Singh ordered administrative action to reclaim the land.
According to accounts of his tenure, police personnel were deployed even on a holiday, after which the school was vacated and the land was restored to the hospital authorities.
Azam Khan’s 2019 Remarks Against Officials
Singh’s tenure as Rampur DM also coincided with controversial remarks made by Azam Khan during the 2019 Lok Sabha election campaign.
Khan had made remarks targeting government officials, including collectors, during an election speech.
The comments drew widespread attention and resulted in action under election-related provisions.
Singh, who was serving as Rampur DM at the time, took action in connection with the remarks and other cases involving Khan.
The subsequent legal proceedings contributed to the broader political and legal troubles faced by the SP leader.
Action Against Azam Khan and His Associates
During Singh’s tenure as Rampur DM, the administration initiated numerous cases involving Azam Khan and his associates, including matters related to alleged land encroachment and election violations.
Several dozen FIRs were registered during the period, with reports putting the number at more than 60 cases involving Khan and people associated with him.
The actions turned Singh into one of the most prominent bureaucratic faces associated with the administrative crackdown in Rampur.
Khan was subsequently convicted in a number of cases, including a case in which he received a three-year prison sentence.
Following his conviction, he lost his membership of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
It is important to distinguish, however, between Singh’s administrative actions and the subsequent judicial decisions: the convictions and disqualifications were ultimately matters for the courts and the legislature.
Role in Abdullah Azam’s Election Case
Singh’s tenure in Rampur also coincided with proceedings involving Abdullah Azam Khan, the son of Azam Khan.
Abdullah had been elected as an SP MLA from the Suar Tanda constituency in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
His election was challenged on the ground that he had not attained the minimum age required to contest the election.
The matter came before the district administration during Singh’s tenure as DM.
An investigation reportedly found that Abdullah’s age at the time of nomination did not meet the constitutional requirement for contesting the Assembly election.
The matter was subsequently forwarded to the Election Commission and the courts, ultimately leading to the cancellation of Abdullah Azam’s election.
From Rampur DM to Moradabad Commissioner
After serving as Rampur DM for around two years, Singh moved to a higher administrative position following his promotion.
He was appointed Divisional Commissioner of Moradabad, a position that placed him in charge of one of western Uttar Pradesh’s important administrative divisions.
He continued in the Moradabad region for several years and remained a prominent figure in the state’s bureaucracy.
He was most recently serving as Divisional Commissioner, Moradabad, before his latest deputation term ended.
Singh’s Major Postings in Uttar Pradesh
Singh has held several important assignments during his career in Uttar Pradesh.
His major postings include:
- 2015: Special Secretary, Irrigation and Water Resources
- 2016–2017: District Magistrate & Collector, Bulandshahr
- 2017–2018: Additional Commissioner, Commercial Tax, Lucknow
- 2018–2019: District Magistrate, Fatehpur
- 2019–2021: District Magistrate, Rampur
- 2021–2025: Divisional Commissioner, Moradabad Division
- August 2025–August 2026: Divisional Commissioner, Moradabad (latest posting before completion of deputation)
His career has therefore included district administration, revenue and taxation, infrastructure-related responsibilities and divisional-level administration.
Known for Tough Administrative Style
Singh has built a reputation in Uttar Pradesh for a strict and enforcement-oriented style of administration.
His tenure in Rampur, in particular, brought him national attention because of the actions taken against powerful political figures and alleged encroachments involving government property.
He has also been described as an accessible administrator with a focus on implementation and field-level governance.
During his earlier posting in Bulandshahr, reports of local residents objecting to his transfer also contributed to his reputation as an officer with a strong public connect.
Why His Deputation Is Unusual
Under the normal framework governing deputation, an IAS officer’s tenure on central or inter-cadre deputation is subject to prescribed limits and approvals.
An inter-cadre transfer or change of cadre is a separate process and is permitted only under specific circumstances and with the required approvals.
The prolonged continuation of Singh in Uttar Pradesh has therefore attracted attention because of the number of extensions granted over the years.
His case is particularly notable because he has spent significantly longer in Uttar Pradesh than in his parent cadre of Sikkim.
What Happens Next?
For now, Singh’s deputation has ended and he has proceeded on leave after handing over the Moradabad Commissioner’s charge to DM Rajendra Pensia.
However, his return to Uttar Pradesh has not necessarily been ruled out.
The state government’s proposal seeking an extension is still awaiting the Chief Minister’s decision. If approved, the proposal would move to the Centre for consideration through the prescribed administrative process.
The DoPT and other competent authorities would then have to process the extension before any formal order is issued.
Until such a decision is taken, Singh’s next posting remains a matter of administrative interest.
Aunjaneya Kumar Singh’s Career at a Glance
Aunjaneya Kumar Singh’s career stands out for the unusual length of his association with Uttar Pradesh despite being a Sikkim-cadre officer.
From serving as DM of Bulandshahr and Fatehpur to his high-profile tenure in Rampur and subsequent elevation as Moradabad Commissioner, he has held several strategically important assignments.
His actions in Rampur, particularly those involving Azam Khan and properties associated with Jauhar University, brought him national attention and established his image as a tough administrator.
Now, after seven extensions of his UP deputation, the absence of a fresh extension has temporarily brought his long stint in the state to an end.
Whether the Yogi Adityanath government receives approval for another extension—or whether the officer finally returns to his parent cadre of Sikkim—will be closely watched.
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