In a significant bureaucratic reshuffle, the Central Government has appointed Mr. KK Pathak, a senior IAS officer from the Rajasthan cadre, as Joint Secretary in the Department of Fertilizers, despite resistance from the Rajasthan government. Mr. Pathak is set to be relieved this month and will officially join his new role in New Delhi.
This move highlights the authority of the Centre in deputing All India Services officers, reinforcing that state governments cannot block deputation once the Centre seeks an officer’s services.
State Government Reluctant, But Central Rules Prevail
The Rajasthan government had earlier denied a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for Mr. Pathak’s deputation, aiming to retain his services amid a growing shortage of senior administrative officers. However, according to Central Government regulations, states are obligated to relieve IAS officers for central deputation within a specified time frame, even without their consent.
This procedural mandate ensures that the Centre retains primacy in the deployment of All India Services officers for national-level governance roles.
Growing Exodus of IAS Officers from Rajasthan
Mr. Pathak is the tenth IAS officer from Rajasthan to move to Delhi under the current state administration. Recently, Mr. Indrajit, another IAS officer, was appointed as Director in the Ministry of Culture. Others who have already shifted include Mr. Gaurav Goyal, Mr. PC Kishan, Mr. Bhanu Prakash Etru, Mr. Ansh Deep, Mr. Ashish Gupta, Mr. Ashutosh AT Pendhanekar, and Mr. Bhagwati Prasad Kalal.
With Mr. Pathak’s transfer, the total number of Rajasthan cadre IAS officers now serving on Central deputation has reached 23. This trend is adding to the administrative strain within the state.
Officer Shortage Becomes a Governance Challenge
Rajasthan is currently grappling with a critical shortage of senior bureaucrats. Since the beginning of 2024, as many as 32 IAS officers have retired, including six between May and August alone. Moreover, 54 departments in the state are currently functioning under officers holding additional charge, which includes apex-level positions.
Several departments handling key public-facing responsibilities are operating under overstretched bureaucrats, some managing as many as four additional portfolios.
Promoted IAS Officers Still Awaiting Posting
Adding to the administrative bottleneck is the delay in postings of newly promoted IAS officers. A total of 20 officers—16 promoted from Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) and 4 from other services—are yet to receive new postings. They continue working on their previous assignments as they await the government’s transfer orders.
Promoted from RAS to IAS:
- Mr. Navneet Kumar
- Mr. Sukhveer Saini
- Mr. Harphool Singh Yadav
- Mr. Rajesh Verma
- Mr. Suresh Chandra
- Mr. Mahendra Kumar Khinchi
- Mr. Ajit Singh Rajawat
- Mr. Awadhesh Singh
- Mr. Rakesh Sharma
- Mr. Jagveer Singh
- Mr. Brajesh Kumar Chandaulia
- Dr. Harshaya Meena
- Mr. Jugal Kishore Meena
- Mr. Rakesh Rajoria
- Mr. Lalit Kumar
- Dr. Shiv Prasad Singh
Promoted from Other Services:
- Mr. Nitish Sharma
- Ms. Amita Sharma
- Mr. Narendra Manghani
- Mr. Naresh Goyal
The long delay in finalizing the postings not only demotivates the promoted officers but also stalls critical departmental functions, affecting service delivery at various levels.
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