UP Chief Secretary of state Javed Usmani’s extended absence from office has raised this question in the state government. Queries arose after Usmani requested for an extension in leave for yet another week. The move has gotten tongues waging about speculations that Usmani is not willing to continue any further.
Though Usmani has sought leave extension on medical grounds, the bureaucratic circle is busy speculating about the real reason for his absence from office for such an extended period. He even gave Independence Day celebrations a miss. Some officials say that Usmani is trying to go back to New Delhi and very soon the state might have a new Chief secretary.
Javed Usmani went on a one week leave on 22 July. In his absence the routine work of the Chief Secretary is being handled by the Chairman of the Board of Revenue, VK Sharma.
Usmani was expected to join office on 14 August but last minute he sought an extension for one more week and was granted.
Bureaucrats close to Javed Usmani say that the 1978 batch IAS officer, is finding it uncomfortable working in an atmosphere where there are many power centres and all of them using their influences on important issues.
Sources say that he had personally conveyed his discomfort to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav stating that he has been forced to keep different political centres happy. ‘He was also not happy with the way some junior officers were given prominence and his orders were changed on the suggestions of these officers,’ the source said.
Interestingly, Usmani is the same person who was specially called from the Centre and appointed Chief Secretary of state after formation of the Samajwadi Party government on 15 March. It is believed that he has very good relations with SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and had worked with him during his tenure as CM in 2003.
Besides Usmani's proximity with the SP leader, his religion was another reason leading to his selection for the post. The SP government wanted to send a message across to minority community that it cared for them Sources claim that Usmani’s unwillingnes to occupy the Chief Secretary's office and his desire to return to the Centre has put the SP leadership in a spot. It is believed that the SP leadership was pursuing him to continue with his job but the deadlock continues.
The sources said that it might take few more days to settle the matter, and in case Usmani refuses to relent, a woman officer of 1977 batch, currently in the Centre, may replace him.
Though Usmani has sought leave extension on medical grounds, the bureaucratic circle is busy speculating about the real reason for his absence from office for such an extended period. He even gave Independence Day celebrations a miss. Some officials say that Usmani is trying to go back to New Delhi and very soon the state might have a new Chief secretary.
Javed Usmani went on a one week leave on 22 July. In his absence the routine work of the Chief Secretary is being handled by the Chairman of the Board of Revenue, VK Sharma.
Usmani was expected to join office on 14 August but last minute he sought an extension for one more week and was granted.
Bureaucrats close to Javed Usmani say that the 1978 batch IAS officer, is finding it uncomfortable working in an atmosphere where there are many power centres and all of them using their influences on important issues.
Sources say that he had personally conveyed his discomfort to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav stating that he has been forced to keep different political centres happy. ‘He was also not happy with the way some junior officers were given prominence and his orders were changed on the suggestions of these officers,’ the source said.
Interestingly, Usmani is the same person who was specially called from the Centre and appointed Chief Secretary of state after formation of the Samajwadi Party government on 15 March. It is believed that he has very good relations with SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and had worked with him during his tenure as CM in 2003.
Besides Usmani's proximity with the SP leader, his religion was another reason leading to his selection for the post. The SP government wanted to send a message across to minority community that it cared for them Sources claim that Usmani’s unwillingnes to occupy the Chief Secretary's office and his desire to return to the Centre has put the SP leadership in a spot. It is believed that the SP leadership was pursuing him to continue with his job but the deadlock continues.
The sources said that it might take few more days to settle the matter, and in case Usmani refuses to relent, a woman officer of 1977 batch, currently in the Centre, may replace him.