After model code of conduct ended in Rajasthan yesterday, senior IAS Veenu Gupta, on Tuesday, joined as Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) chief .She was relieved by state government today afternoon.
Veenu Gupta was serving as additional chief secretary handling important portfolios like industries, mines, petroleum and investment among others.
Now as RERA chief, she has big challenge ahead specially in Rajasthan where real estate sector is still unorganised. Her husband former chief secretary D B Gupta, who is completing his term as chief information commissioner this month accompanied her while joining. RERA registrar R C Sharma completed her joining formality.
Also Read : IAS Veenu Gupta becomes chief of RERA three months before retirement
Earlier Veenu Gupta was to join on December 1. Every arrangement was in place and the secretariat of RERA was informed about it. But in absence of clearance from Election Commission of India, the joining was delayed.
Gupta to serve full term
Veenu Gupta, a 1987 batch IAS officer, will have the opportunity to work to the full term of five years as the superannuation age for RERA chief is 65 years.
The BuckStopper was the first to report that Veenu Gupta had applied for the post and was the frontrunner. Apart from Gupta, two more IAS officers, Ravi Shankar Srivastava and P K Goyal were also in the contention.
The state government has announced the name of Veenu Gupta as the chairman on September 28, 2023.
The post of RERA chairman had fallen vacant in April this year after former chief secretary N C Goel completed his term.
“Gupta was slated to the chief secretary after retirement of Usha Sharma in June 2023. But Sharma got extension till December 2023 and hopes of Gupta were dashed. Now Gupta has got her due as she is an excellent officer. She will take RERA to a greater heights” said another senior bureaucrat.
Post of RERA chief
The position of Chairman of RERA is a selection post and interested candidates are invited to apply. A high power committee, led by the Chief Justice of the High Court, with members including the Principal Secretary UDH and Secretary Law, will then select the most suitable candidate for the position. To be eligible for the post, the candidate must be an official of the seniority of Additional Secretary in the Government of India or a technocrat, and the tenure of the Chairman is five years or until the age of 65.
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