Chhattisgarh: BJP, Congress spar over contract appointment to retired IAS officer

RAIPUR: A day after his retirement, Chhattisgarh government on Monday appointed IAS officer Dr Alok Shukla as principal secretary on contract basis for three years sparking a row with main opposition BJP questioning the appointment alleging that Shukla's name figured in the multi-crore PDS scam that came to light five years ago.
Shukla, who attained superannuation on May 30, has been appointed as principal secretary for three years with the charge of legislative affairs, with additional charge of school education department.Later, a fresh order was issued entrusting him with the charge of skill development, technical education and employment and chairman of school education board and professional examination board. He was holding charge of these departments prior to his retirement.
Opposition BJP has questioned the contractual appointment saying that contract appointment rules of September 2012 clearly state that post-retirement, contract appointment cannot be made of the person concerned if he/she is facing departmental inquiry or any prosecution.
Besides, the rules are also clear that posts, on which such appointments are to be made, must be vacant at least for a period of one year.
Leader of opposition in Chhattisgarh assembly Dharamlal Kaushik claimed that the state government cannot argue that there is a shortage of efficient officers.
He said Shukla is charge-sheeted in the PDS scam and is now facing prosecution. Besides, the then chief secretary had also recommended his suspension, he added.
However, the ruling Congress defended Shukla's appointment as principal secretary on contract basis saying that neither the leader of the opposition Dharamlal Kaushik nor any other BJP leader have the moral right to question it as everyone knows that how officers appointed on contract had ruled the roost during the last 15 years of BJP rule.
State Congress spokesman RP Singh said the state government has been making efforts to improve the school education system and is starting 40 new English medium schools from this academic session.

BJP’s opposition against appointment of Alok Shukla is in fact against the state’s efforts strengthen the school education system”, he added.
Shukla, who was principal secretary food and civil supplies when the PDS scam came to light, is among the two IAS officers and other officers, whose name had figured in the scam. A case was registered at the office of Economic Offences Wing/Anti-Corruption Bureau of the state police at Raipur in 2015 in connection with the alleged scam.
However, Alok Shukla had gone public in a Facebook post in December 2015— during the previous BJP regime — stating that he has been framed in the case.