Babus on Central deputation hold seats tight

Bhubaneswar: Many IAS officers who have been on Central deputation are yet to return to Odisha even after completion of their term.
At least a dozen bureaucrats from the state are still working at the Centre even after completion of their deputation period.
According to sources, a 1983-batch IAS officer I Srinivas has been on central deputation since June 12, 2014. Although he is scheduled to retire in May 2020, sources claimed that the senior bureaucrat may not return to the state.
Similarly, a 1984-batch officer, Arun Kumar Panda, had gone on central deputation September 22, 2010. Panda was supposed to return to state in 2017. However, he is still working at the Centre.
Panda’s batchmate, Ashok Mahadeo Dalwai, had gone to the Centre April 30, 2010. He is going to retire this month. UP Singh, a 1985-batch officer, has been on central assignment since April 25, 2011. He was scheduled to return to Odisha in 2016. However, Singh has extended his term at the Centre by another two years, it is learnt.
Singh’s batchmate, SN Tripathy, has been working at the Centre since April 15, 2013. According to sources, the duration of Tripathy’s central deputation ended in April, this year.
Satyabrata Sahu, a 1991-batch officer, is still on central assignment even though his deputation period ended in May, this year. Sushil Kumar Lohani of 1995-batch had extended his tenure at the Centre by another two years after completion of his deputation period in 2016. Devjani Chakravorthy of 2002-batch was supposed to return to state in February, this year. But, she is still holding office at the Centre.
“IAS officers can extend the durations of their central deputation. However, the state government has the authority to bring them back,” said former chief secretary Sahdeb Sahoo.
An IAS couple, Santosh Sarangi and Aparajita Sarangi, who had gone on central deputation in 2013, is expected to work in state from the current year. SK Bashista of 1998-batch is also expected to return to state from central deputation next year, sources said.
Similarly, IAS couple, Aravind Padhee and Usha Padhee, is scheduled to return from Centre and work in state in 2020. “Ashwathi S of 2003-batch and Parag Gupta of 1988-batch, may return to state after completion of their central deputation in 2020,” said a source.