New Delhi: The appointment of former cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba and ex-Enforcement Directorate chief SK Mishra has raised expectations of govt moving in to fill up crucial vacancies — from revenue secretary to RBI deputy governor and four members of the Central Board of Direct Taxes.
Several of these posts have been lying vacant for months, with more vacancies coming up, including that of the insurance regulator, a job for which jostling has already begun.
The buzz in bureaucratic circles is that secretary-level appointments will be made over the next few weeks with IAS officers from the 1994 batch moving into these jobs as they have been empanelled for the top-level posts.
Among the most sought-after jobs is that of the revenue secretary, which fell vacant after Tuhin Kanta Pandey moved to Sebi last month after spending around 45 days, having been parachuted into the assignment weeks before Union Budget was presented. In Dec, Sanjay Malhotra, who was revenue secretary, was appointed RBI governor. Finance secretary Ajay Seth is doubling up as revenue secretary at the moment.
One of the most keenly awaited appointments is that of RBI deputy governor who will lead the monetary policy department. Govt has not named a replacement for Michael Patra who left Mint Road over two months ago, with Malhotra depending to M Rajeshwar Rao to perform the crucial task.
