West Bengal chief secretary unlikely to visit Delhi today

Speculation is rife that West Bengal chief secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay may not visit New Delhi on Monday as the Mamata Banerjee government has not relieved him from his present post in the state. It is also the date of his retirement.

The top state bureaucrat, who got three months extension last week from the Narendra Modi government following a request from the Trinamul Congress government for his efficiency in handling the Covid-19 pandemic, was asked to report by 10 am at North Block to the Department of Personnel and Training under the Ministry of Personnel, public grievances and pensions headed by the Prime Minister himself.

The order was sent as per provisions of Rule 6(1) of the Indian Administrative Service (Cadre) Rules, 1954 on May 28 evening hours after the 1987-batch IAS officer accompanied the chief minister in skipping the PM’s review meeting on Cyclone Yaas at Kalaikunda Air Force Station in West Midnapore.

Though the Trinamul Congress supremo on

Saturday appealed to the PM and Union home minister Amit Shah to withdraw the Centre’s controversial order after attacking them, the state government has received no further communication from the Centre till the reports last came in Sunday evening.

On the other hand, the state government has also taken a firm stand by not issuing Mr Bandyopadhyay any order for his release, which is essential for the bureaucrats under the All India Service cadres to go for Central deputation from their places of posting in the state.