M A I N   N E W S

Arvind Kaul may be Chief Secy
Top-level changes on cards
Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 17
Mr Arvind Kaul, senior most IAS officer of the state cadre, is likely to succeed Mrs Rajendra Bhattacharya, Chief Secretary, who is retiring on September 30.

An officer of the 1968 batch, Mr Kaul is at present Additional Chief Secretary holding the charge of the Home and Industries. Another officer of the same batch, Mr Shamsher Singh Kanwar, is also in the race but going by an indication, the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, is unlikely to ignore the seniority. Mr Kanwar is the Chairman of the state electricity board and also holds the charge of Principal Secretary, Power.

Official circles are agog with rumours that appointment of Mr Kaul as the Chief Secretary might be for a few months and Mr Shamsher Singh, who is considered close to Mr Virbhadra Singh, could be elevated to the coveted post in the due course. Both officers are due for superannuation later next year and this arrangement would enable both the batch mates to hold the top post.

Meanwhile, some other top-level changes are on the card as the post of the Finance Secretary is lying vacant with Mr P.I. Suvaratan proceeding on Central deputation and Mr S.S. Negi, Financial Commissioner, Appeals, is likely to be appointed as a member of the state administrative tribunal. While there are no takers for the post of the Finance Secretary, several ministers were unhappy with their secretaries and wanted them to be changed.

Mr S.S. Parmar, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, is being tipped for the post of the Finance Secretary and a search for his successor was on.