The appointment of additional chief secretary Veenu Gupta as chairperson of Real Estate Regulatory Authority ( RERA ) has rekindled hopes in many retired and a couple of serving bureaucrats eyeing rehabilitation in government machinery.
There are more than 26 retired IAS and IPS officers serving in Gehlot government in various authorities, commissions and boards .
Now with less than two weeks to go for enforcement of model code of conduct, chief minsiter Ashok Gehlot has little time to adjust his ‘choice' in positions vacant at least in two commissions.
The chief minister has formed around 15 boards, most of them caste based this year for political gain. But as it seems, next government is likely to appoint office bearers for these boards.
However, a handful of aspirants are awaiting with baited breath for appointments in these two commissions:
Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC):
This is one of the most sought-after commission for retired bureaucrats or for that matter even serving bureaucrats eye this commission for being member or chairman.
At present three posts of members are vacant in this commission excluding member Babulal Katara who is in jail in the paper leak case. This has dented the reputation of the commission to certain extent.
Once the dismissal of Katara is approved by the President of India, there will be four posts to be filled before this outgoing government. Since this is a constitution position for maximum of six years tenure, people especially bureaucrats prefer to get a foothold as member or chairman. The change of government has no impact on their existence.
According to sources, one serving OSD to chief minister and two retired Director General of police services are lobbying hard for these posts.
Apart from that, two loyalists of Gehlot having no service background are also eyeing for the posts.
Gehlot had made Sanjay Shrotriya, an IPS officer promoted from state police service as its chairman even before his scheduled retirement. This has miffed many senior DGP level retired officers who were eyeing this position.
Rajasthan State Information Commission (RSIC):
There are three posts likely to be filled in this commission. The tenure of chairman and information commissioners is 5 years or till the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. These are also constitutional posts immune to any change in the government. So a lot of lobbying happens for appointments on these posts. Not only retired IAS and IPS but also senior jouralists, advocates and retired judges vie for these posts.
At least three senior journalists, three retired IAS and three retired IPS are awaiting this opportunity. The government has little time to decide on these appointments.
The BuckStopper, run by a group of seasoned journalists, holds the powerful accountable. The buck stops with them, as they cannot shrug off their official responsibilities.
