CS Vyas gets 1 year extension

TNN Bureau. Updated: 5/20/2018 10:47:27 AM Front Page

JAMMU: With decks already cleared by Centre on the request of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Chief Secretary Bharat Bhushan Vyas has been given one year extension in service, beyond May 31, 2018.

Vyas’s extended term as the top bureaucrat of the state was to expire on May 31. However, the change in All India Services Act, 1951 affected on Thursday paved way for him to get another extended term-his third since November 2017 when he was scheduled to superannuate.

The Personnel Ministry has approved extension in service of Vyas for a further period of one year, from June 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019, on a request from the Mehbooba Mufti, in the backdrop of the ever-evolving situation in the volatile state.

Vyas, a 1986-batch IAS officer, took over as Chief Secretary on April 28, 2017, from B R Sharma who later proceeded on central deputation, even when there were two officers- KB Aggarwal and Pramod Jain- senior to him.

Before his retirement on November 30, 2017, he was given a 3-month extension on October 26, which had set up his retirement date on February 28, 2018, followed by another extension for three-month period from March 1 to May 31, 2018.

Vyas had served as the principal secretary to the Jammu and Kashmir Governor and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, besides holding various positions including the Principal Secretary (Finance).

In his long bureaucratic career he had served at various key positions including that of DC Srinagar, Divi-sional Commissioner Kashmir, Principal Secretary Finance and Financial Commissioner Planning.

On Thursday, the Centre in a significant development, had affected amendment to a rule, providing for a longer tenure to the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, allowing Vyas to hold the coveted post for as long as November 2019.

Till the new rule came into force, the state chief secretary superannuated on attaining the age of 60.
According to the new rule made by the Ministry of Personnel, an officer holding the post of chief secretary in Jammu and Kashmir may be given an extension of service, under exceptional circumstances, for a period beyond six months- the threshold limit for counterparts in other states and in J&K as well till yesterday.


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