Odisha: Home dept seeks info on re-engagement of retired officials

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha home department has sought information regarding the appointment and re-engagement of retired officers in various departments.

The officer-on-special-duty (OSD) cum-deputy secretary has shot off a letter in this connection to Odisha Director General of Police (DGP), Chief Resident Commissioner- Odisha Bhawan, New Delhi, Chief Electoral Officer, Director (Intelligence), Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Odisha State Police Housing and Welfare Corporation, Registrar (General) Orissa High Court, Director Odisha Judicial Academy among others.

As per official sources, information has been sought from 13 departments. The concerned authorities have been asked to submit details in a prescribed format including the names of retired officers, designation, place of posting, remuneration, and their engagements up to.

It is believed that the move is to bring in more transparency in the functioning of various departments. It is alleged that the re-engagement of retired officials usually benefits the ruling party. With the change of government in Odisha, such development assumes much significance.

Three officials in the Odisha chief minister’s office had put in their papers on June 6, two days after the defeat of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the recently concluded assembly election.

Retired IAS officers R Balakrishnan, and Suresh Chandra Mahapatra who served as chief advisor, Special Initiatives and chief advisor, Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) respectively resigned from their posts while principal secretary of IT and electronics department Manoj Mishra had earlier resigned.