AGARTALA, Sep 7 (TIWN): Once again Chief Secretary's designation was listed at down in State Portal Secretaries' designation list. According to State Portal IAS officer Pravin Srivastava (1980 batch, who is now appointed as the CRC, Tripura Bhavan New Delhi) is now above the Chief Secretary and the second powerful Secretary is Chief Secretary. As Chief Resident Commissioner, Tripura Bhavan, New Delhi Pravin Srivastava’s name comes at the top and then Chief Secretary and four Add Chief Secretaries names are listed. Interestingly, tainted former Chief Secretary of Tripura S K Panda, back in 2014 while leaving state to join as the Add Chief Secretary in a Central Ministry, had recommended IAS officer Pravin Srivastava as the next Chief Secretary of Tripura, which triggered much controversy and Panda's recommendation was rejected. Even under former CM Manik Sarkar rather than appointing Pravin Srivastava as Chief Secretary honest officer YP Sing was appointed and the next and incumbent Chief Secretary Sanjeev Ranjan has also been spotless.

But even though in Indian Administration a Chief Secretary is at the top the new BJP Govt again and again has violated the designation.

In 1988, during the counting of ballots for Maszidpur constituency Assembly polls, Srivastava as the DM (West Tripura) and returning officer had allowed an unnecessary recounting of ballots after announcement of the results, bowing to pressure from the Congress leadership. The ballots were “tampered” with while being recounted and finally CPM candidate Manik Dey (present power minister), who had won the seat by a margin of 463 votes, was shown to have lost it by more than 500 votes, national media had reported on that time.

But under the Congress turned BJP leadership same possibilities are again raising, when already state is shocked with Ayyangar’s promotion as Add Chief Secretary. 

National media in 2014 came in massive criticism when Panda before departure recommended Pravin Srivastava as the next Chief Secretary.

Chief Secretaries are members of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) who are the administrative head of state governments. A Chief Secretary functions as the central point of interdepartmental coordination at the departmental level and is classified as being in the Apex Grade. Chief Secretary is considered to be the Chief Executive of the state government and considered to be 'a linchpin' in the administration. Chief Secretary of the state also acts as the ex-officio Chairman of the State Civil Service Board, which recommends transfer/postings of officers of All India Services and State Civil Services in the state.

But in case of Tripura in case of ‘Standing Committee of Secretaries’, Chief Secretary Sanjeev Ranjan was posted as Co-Chairman of the Committee, whereas OSD / Advisory of CM has awarded with the position of Chairman.