Disgruntled claimant for post of CS may challenge D K Jain’s appointment

In the history of the state administration, it may be the first incident in which the appointment of chief secretary by the state government will be challenged in the court. Dinesh Kumar alias D K Jain (Indian Administrative Services 1983 batch), serving as additional Chief Secretary of Finance department will take charge of CS from outgoing CS Sumit Mullick on April 30 as the later will retire at month’s end. He will supersede four senior bureaucrats and one of them may challenge his appointment.

According to senior bureaucrat, Jain brought pressure from Delhi to become CS of state bypassing four senior bureaucrat who were claimant of the post according to seniority. Medha Gadgil, ACS (Relief and Rehabilitation), Sudhir Shrivastava, ACS (Home), Sunil Porwal, ACS (Industries), and UPS Madan, Additional chief secretary and Metropolitan commissioner are the four senior most bureaucrat who are claimant of the chief secretary post. All these bureaucrats are from 1983 batch of Indian Administrative Services (IAS).

The source claimed that non-Maharashtrian lobby of bureaucrats brought pressure on chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to appoint Jain as next CM. “One of the bureaucrat who is close to CM was ahead of lobbying for Jain,” the source claimed.

Meanwhile, if Jain will be appointed as CS, one of the claimants may challenge the decision in court. One of the bureaucrats, who is on top of the seniority list, said, “The seniority list isn’t prepared by age but by considering the marks obtained in Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination. In this way, the state will supersede four senior bureaucrats by appointing Jain as CS.”

The source further said that the judgement of Supreme Court that comes on Wednesday will support their stand. The union law ministry has rejected the decision of collegium to elevate Uttarakhand Chief Justice K M Joseph as Justice in SC. The ministry claims Joseph is placed at 42 number in All India High Court Judge’s seniority list.

“When union government has taken a decision not elevate junior judge by superseding seniority list, how can the state government do it?” the source questioned.

The source further claimed, Medha Gadgil was not considered for the elevation as she is wife of Anant Gadgil, congress spokesman.

Meanwhile, Jain will get a term of five months since he will retire in September. The source claimed Jain will be replaced by Ajoy Mehta (IAS of 1985 batch), Commissioner of BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation in October this year.

Praveen Pardeshi (IAS of batch 1985) is expected to become BMC commissioner and will replace Mehta. UPS Madan would probably be principal secretary of chief minister office.