Fresh applications invited for the post
LUCKNOW: With dozens of senior civil servants and IPS officers vying for the coveted posts of UP Real Estate Regulatory Authority (UPRERA) chairperson and members, the Uttar Pradesh government extended on Thursday the deadline for the aspirants to apply by another four days.
“Thursday was the last day for candidates to submit their applications, but the government has now extended the deadline to apply for these posts till June 25,” said a housing official dealing with the matter. With hectic lobbying by powerful bureaucrats, both serving and retired, the appointments process going on since October, 2016 has been derailed twice in the past.
The government first invited
applications on October 28, 2016 and then again on May 4, 2017 with the political change of guard in the state under the ruling BJP government.
A new notification inviting fresh applications for the posts was again issued on May 31 following a rap by the Allahabad High Court over the delay in making the appointments. The court had asked the government to complete the appointments
process by July 16.
“All those who had applied earlier need not apply afresh. Their applications would be clubbed along with the new ones and sent to the selection panel,” said the official.
Apart from a chairperson, UPRERA would have three fulltime members. So what was the need of inviting fresh applications when the state government has already received 13 applica- tions for the post of chairman and 37 for the post of members in the previous two notifications for these posts?
“Apparently, there are some new contenders, who could not apply then and now want to give it a shot,” quipped the official. Among the front-runners for the UPRERA chief, the name of chief secretary Rajive Kumar, who is due to retire on June 30, is doing the round, though those close to him say Kumar himself is not very keen for the top job.
Other prominent contenders for the top job include senior IAS officers Shankar Aggarwal, former secretary in Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Prabhat Kumar, RP Singh, Aradhana Johri, ex-DGP AL Banerjee.
While a candidate applying for the UPRERA chief has to have at least 21 years of experience and should have served as additional secretary at the centre or equivalent post in the state, 15 years of experience is required for the members post. Besides, the contenders should have adequate knowledge and professional experience in urban development, housing, real estate, infrastructure, economics, law, accountancy and other technical fields.
“The name of a former chief secretary very close to the then Samajwadi Party regime was shortlisted for the position. But the move was shelved when the selection committee made certain observations, which disqualified him for the job,” says an official, who was at the helm then. The selection panel is headed by Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court and secretaries of Housing and Law departments.