West Bengal govt likely to lock horns with Centre over top official's transfer

West Bengal government is likely to lock horns with the Central Government over the central deputation of IAS officer Alapan Bandopadhyay. The state's top official was granted an extension for his service in the state after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's appeal.

Kolkata: Merely four days after being granted an extension, West Bengal's top official, Alapan Bandopadhyay was called for central deputation on Friday. Earlier, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had appealed to the Centre for Bandopadhyay's extension for three months. Even though the Centre agreed on the request on May 25, the permission for the extension was taken back. It is likely that the state government will lock horns with the Centre over the matter.

IAS officer Bandopadhyay who is the state chief secretary is scheduled to retire on May 31 and owing to his ability in handling the Covid crisis, Banerjee requested for his extension soon after taking oath as CM.

Trinamool Congress’ Rajya Sabha member, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, hit out against the centre on the matter. “Has this ever happened since Independence? Forced central deputation of a Chief Secretary of a State. How much lower will Modi-Shah’s BJP stoop," Roy said. He further slammed stating it is all because people of Bengal humiliated the duo and chose Mamata Banerjee with an overwhelming mandate.

BJP’s state general secretary, Sayantan Basu said Bandopadhyay got the extension only after the green signal from the Union government. “Now, the Union government has found him fit for central duty. BJP has nothing to do with this administrative decision,” he said.

A former bureaucrat, on strict condition of anonymity said that since Bandopadhyay, as an Indian Administrative Service ((IAS) officer belongs to central service cadre, he cannot really afford to go for an all-out tussle against the Union government. “There can be troubles or unnecessary delays relating to his pension. On the other hand, for the state government this is a prestige issue. I personal think that Alapan has been trapped in a battle of prestige between two political forces,” he said.

The notification was issued by the Department of Personnel and Training under Rule 6(1) of the Indian Administrative Service (Cadre), 1954. In the notification, the state government was asked to release Bandopadhyay with immediate effect so that he can report for duty in New Delhi by 10 AM on May 31, 2021. In the notification, it was mentioned that Bandopadhyay has been called for central deputation following the decision of the Appointments Committee of the Union cabinet.

As per Rule 6(1) of the Indian Administrative Service (Cadre), 1954, the Union government can appoint any central service cadres including an IAS officer on central deputation subject to clearance from the state government concerned. Bandopadhyay took charge as state chief secretary in October last year.