Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot has employed and re-employed at least 26 retired bureaucrats, which is almost 10% of the current strength of 263 IAS officers serving in the state.
Out of that six are from IPS and rest are IAS. There is still scope of appointing at least eight more retired officers on posts vacant in various boards, commissions and authorities like RERA, RPSC and RSIC among few others.
Among six IPS, Dr Bhupendra Yadav has completed his term as chairman of Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) while Hari Prasad Sharma has resigned from chairmanship of Rajasthan Subordinate and Ministerial Services Selection Board (RSMSSB).
Among IAS officers, Banna Lal, a promotee IAS, who was appointed as member secretary State Finance Commission in 2019 has died recently. In the list of 26, Shuchi Sharma is the only lady officer who has been rewarded with post retirement assignment in this government.
A close look at the list of these officers clearly explains reasons of their being with Gehlot, who is known to value loyalty. Most of these ex-bureaucrats had served closely with Gehlot in his last two tenures in their regular regime. And in the third term of Gehlot when they retired, the chief minister rewarded them with plum positions.
Arvind Mayaram
He is a 1978 batch IAS serving as economic advisor to chief minister since 2019. He had served as secretary in the finance ministry during his central deputation and is known to have an expertise in economics and finance. His mother late Indira Mayaram was minister of state in Gehlot first tenure (1998-2003).
Ram Lubhaya
A batch mate of Mayaram, Ram Lubhaya has been in news for quite some time. It was his report which became the basis of formation of 17 new districts in Rajasthan. He was made the chairman of the committee formed to recommend organisation of new districts in 2021. The committee is still working on creation of further new districts and is set to handover its report to the government. In Gehlot's previous tenure, Ram Lubhaya had handled important department of PHED.
G S Sandhu
A close confidante of Gehlot and UDH minister Shanti Dhariwal, G S Sandhu has been roped in as advisor to UDH department in 2020. In previous tenure of Gehlot (2008-2013), Sandhu had served as additional chief secretary UDH.
N C Goel
A 1982 batch IAS officer, Goel has been rewarded twice in Gehlot government. He was appointed as the first chairman of Real Estate Regulatory Authority and after completion of his term there, Goel has been appointed as the first Director of newly constructed Rajasthan International Centre, which is a multipurpose cultural centre.
D B Gupta
A 1983 batch IAS officer, D B Gupta is considered a ‘go-getter. Vasundhara Raje government had made him chief secretary in February 2018. Against the general trend, when government changed, Gehlot continued with Gupta as chief secretary till July 2020 and then made Gupta his advisor before appointing him as the chief information commissioner in State Information Commission post superannuation. Gupta is among rare officers who has enjoyed trust of both the governments.
Dr Govind Sharma
Dr Govind Sharma is also considered to be a trusted bureaucrat of Gehlot. He was principal secretary finance in Gehlot's previous term. Gehlot brought in Sharma as his advisor after his superannuation.
Khemraj Choudhary
A 1985 batch officer, Choudhary has been appointed as the chairman of the committee set up to study and analyse demands of various employees and officers organisations.
Madhukar Gupta
A batch mate of Khemraj Choudhary, Madhukar Gupta has been appointed as the commissioner of State Election Commission. Gupta had served in commerce ministry in the centre. He is considered as a hard working officer. A Mason fellow, Gupta has had a long tenure of 16 years in four divisions as divisional commissioner, district magistrate in 3 districts and SDM in 2 places in his career spanning over 35 years.
B N Sharma
He is also a 1985 batch officer with string experience in power sector. He has been appointed as chairman of electricity regulatory authority. He has had held several important positions in Rajasthan government before going on deputation to central government. There also he was given significant postings. His batch mate and wife Usha Sharma is serving as the chief secretary in Rajasthan government.
Rajeev Swarup
During this tenure of Gehlot, Rajeev Swarup earned chief minister's trust working as additional chief secretary home during the Covid times. He was made the chief secretary for less than four months before his superannuation. Gehlot government tried for his extension also but could not succeed. Later Gehlot appointed him as the chairman of Rajasthan State Environment Impact Assessment Authority.
Shailendra Agarwal
A 1986 batch officer, Agrawal has been appointed as a member of RERA. After completion of Goel's term, he is officiating as the chairman of the authority. Shailendra Agrawal has served in important positions in previous term of Gehlot and is known to be an efficient straight forward officer.
Niranjan Arya
He has been Gehlot's favourite officer. Gehlot made him the chief secretary by superseding 10 officers senior to him. After retirement, Gehlot appointed him as his advisor. Besides that, Gehlot appointment his wife Sangeeta Arya as a member of RPSC during this tenure. Now word is that Niranjan Arya is likely contest election on Congress ticket from Rohat in Pali district.
S C Derashri
Satish Chandra Derashri is a promotee IAS of 1999 batch. He has been appointed as the member secretary of sixth State Finance Commission (SFC) after death of Banna Lal. He had been member secretary earlier also during the fifth SFC (2015-2018).
Shuchi Sharma
She is a 2022 batch IAS officer promoted from state services. She is perhaps the only lady officer who has been given post retirement assignment in this Gehlot government. She is serving as member of Rajasthan Civil Services Appellate Tribunal.
Salvinder Singh Sohata
A 2003 batch IAS officer, promoted from state services, Sahota is serving as member of RERA after retirement. He has held important positions in previous Gehlot government – both as IAS as well as RAS officer.
Rajesh Sharma
He is also a 2003 batch officer promoted from non-state civil services. After retirement he is serving as member Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC).
Banna Lal
He was promoted to IAS from Rajasthan Accounts Services. After retirement Gehlot made him member secretary of sixth state finance commission. He has died recently. Derashri has replaced him.
Jagroop Singh Yadav
A 2004 batch officer, Yadav has been promoted from state service. During this tenure of Gehlot, he had been collector of Jaipur. Now after retirement, he has been appointed as member of Rajasthan Appellate Tribunal (RAT). He may contest elections from any seat in Alwar or Jaipur Outer.
Matadeen Sharma
A batchmate of Yadav, Matadeen Sharma is also member of Rajasthan Appellate Tribunal (RAT).
Chetan Deora
A 2008 batch IAS officer promoted from state civil services, Deora has been appointed as member of Rajasthan Civil Services Appellate Tribunal.
M L Kumawat
A 1972 batch IPS officer, Kumawat had been director general of Border Security Force. During his previous tenure Gehlot had made him the chairman of RPSC and founder vice chancellor of Sardar Patel Police University Jodhpur. Now Kumawat has been appointed as the chairman of state level committee formed to keep a check on paper leak and cheating in recruitment examination.
Bhupendra Yadav
A 1986 batch IPS officer, Yadav was appointed as RPSC chairman immediately after his superannuation in 2020. He has now retired from his post in 2022.
Alok Tripathi
A batchmate of Yadav, Alok Tripathi has been appointed as the vice chancellor of Sardar Patel Police University in 2020.
M L Lather
He is a 1987 batch IPS. Lather has been appointed as commissioner of state information commission after his retirement from Director General of Police.
Hari Prasad Sharma
A 1999 batch IPS officer promoted from state police service, Sharma was appointed as chairman of Rajasthan Staff Selection Board in 2020. He has recently resigned from his post to contest elections from Phulera.
Sanjay Shrotriya
A 2013 batch IPS officer promoted from state services, Shrotriya is considered a confidante of Gehlot. He had been in chief minister security for long time. He was appointed as the chairman of RPSC six months before his retirement.
Alok Mathur is a law graduate. Journalism is his first love which he now pursues in the latter half of his career. Controversies and crime are the right triggers for him.
