By Staff Reporter, Duranta TV, Agartala:
A serious atmosphere of discomfort and tension has reportedly developed inside the State Secretariat over the repeated reappointment of retired bureaucrats. Although many officials are unwilling to speak openly, Secretariat sources claim that a large section of officers and employees are deeply unhappy and frustrated with this policy of reappointment.
Sources further claim that if attempts continue to place retired officials once again in important government posts, more “unexpected incidents” may take place inside the Secretariat. Allegations have also surfaced that some groups have even threatened to expose confidential government files and documents.
At present, the files related to the reappointment of three retired officials have reportedly remained pending in the Secretariat for several days. They are:
Arun Kumar Ray, Additional Secretary, Revenue Department
Asim Saha, Director of Employment and Manpower
and
Ranjit Das, Joint Commissioner, Tripura Bhawan, Delhi.
According to Secretariat sources, Akinchan Sarkar is allegedly trying to get these files approved quickly by using some of his close and senior officers to influence the Chief Minister. However, strong discussions are ongoing in administrative circles that Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha is still unwilling to approve these files.
Notably, the present tenure of these retired officials is ending this month. Even then, allegations are being raised that they are desperate to secure fresh reappointments. Many sections are now questioning why the same individuals are repeatedly being brought back instead of giving opportunities to deserving serving officers and unemployed educated youths of the state.
Not only inside the Secretariat, but discussions over this “reappointment politics” have now spread across political circles and among the general public as well. From tea stalls to party offices and youth gatherings, the same question is being raised everywhere: “Why are retired officials repeatedly being brought back instead of giving opportunities to deserving new faces?”
Administrative sources also claim that a section is deliberately using the issue of reappointment to damage the image of Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha. Allegations are being made that a “greedy and opportunistic group” within the ruling establishment itself is trying to fuel this controversy for its own interests.
Meanwhile, further controversy has erupted inside the Secretariat over allegations that retired official Arun Kumar Ray has actively come forward to protect Akinchan Sarkar, while Akinchan Sarkar himself is also playing an active behind-the-scenes role in extending Arun Kumar Ray’s reappointment tenure. Administrative circles are now strongly discussing this alleged “mutual benefit equation.”
On the other hand, allegations have also emerged regarding attempts to regularize outsourced staff appointed in the Finance Department through “backdoor methods.” Questions are now being raised in both administrative and political circles regarding this entire recruitment process.
With all these developments, the administrative environment in the state is gradually becoming more heated and controversial. Concerned sections are now closely watching which direction this growing reappointment controversy will take in the coming days.
Coming in the next part —
The inside story behind the regularization of outsourced staff, administrative lobbying, and more explosive revelations.