Manoj Pant, a 1991 batch IAS officer, has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary of the West Bengal following the retirement of his predecessor Bhagwati Prasad Gopalika.
Although the state government had sought permission from the Union government for extending Gopalika's term in office, it had to declare Pant as the new Chief Secretary as the request for extension of West Bengal government was denied by the Centre.
Gopalika, a 1989-batch IAS officer, was scheduled to retire on May 31 this year. However, at that time the Union government accepted the state government's plea for an extension to the senior IAS officer in view of the Lok Sabha elections which were going on then.
Manoj Pant, who served as the Additional Chief Secretary in the Finance Ministry, was recently transferred as the Additional Chief Secretary in the irrigation department.
Sources said that state government was expecting approval of extension till the last minute. But when the approval was denied Pant was appointed as the chief secretary.
Former Irrigation Secretary Prabhat Kumar Mishra has already replaced Pant as the Additional Chief Secretary in Finance Department.
Pant is taking over as the Chief Secretary at a time when the state government and the ruling dispensation are under fire because of multiple issues, including the rape and murder of a junior doctor at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, and several cases of corruption, among others.
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