KK Pathak, Bihar's additional chief secretary of education, is one of the most revered IAS officers in Nitish government. Strongly defying the opposition's demand of removing KK Pathak from the post, chief minister Nitish Kumar announced that honest officer cannot be punished just to placate opposition.
“I will not remove him. He is doing great job. He is an honest officer and doesn't budge under pressure. I will not change him. Do whatever you (opposition) want to do,” Nitish Kumar announced in the assembly.
Chief minister defending an IAS before assembly is a rare sight
Chief minister put up a bold face in assembly and strongly backed his favourite IAS officer whom he entrusted to revolutionise the education system in Bihar. This is a pleasant sight for any bureaucrat when the CM minister drubs opposition just to prove that his officer is going in right direction.
The unprecedented support of CM to KK Pathak assumes great significance in view of the fact that Pathak defied the directions of even Nitish Kumar, who announced in assembly to change the school timing from 9 am to 5 pm to 10 am to 4 pm.
Even after the directions of CM, IAS KK Pathak refused to budge and continued to have the same school timing. And Nitish is surprisingly is not angry on this 1990 batch IAS, who has turned down the orders of chief minister.
IAS KK Pathak under attack for reforms
KK Pathak has been under attack for implementing reforms in Bihar's dead education system. He has been strict on attendance of students as well as teachers in government schools. He has notified timing of schism to be 9 am to 5 pm, which was protested by teachers associations. The matter took political colour also when Nitish Kumar got rid off education minister Professor Chandrashekhar, who was completely against the reformative initiatives taken by KK Pathak.
What IAS KK Pathak has done so far?
IAS KK Pathak is stern and also looks to be stern. A lot of video clips of his scolding subordinates and using abusive language are doing rounds in social media. And to bring education system on track, Pathak is attacking on both – students as well as teachers. While he has instructed to strike off names of students for long absenteeism, Pathak deducted salaries and even suspended teachers for their absenteeism.
IAS KK Pathak has also barred teachers from forming unions, prohibited coaching classes from operating during school hours, slashed the number of religious holidays, strictly enforced the ban on staff wearing jeans and T-shirts to the secretariat.
Ram Kumar Kaushik is a seasoned journalist with over 25 years of experience across mediums. The architect of this news website, he is also a consultant with several media groups. He was formerly the group managing editor of ITV Network (NewsX, India News and The Sunday Guardian) and its digital products.
