Experience matters: Gehlot’s mantra of good governance

Jaipur: Apart from Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, there is perhaps no other Chief Minister in the nation today who is known for recognising talented and hard working retired bureaucrats and keeping them connected with the state machinery to take benefit of their experience. In his current tenure, he has connected 25 retired officers with himself which is a record in itself. Actully, Gehlot is fully aware that the experience of seasoned bureaucrats is somethiong that can be used very well for the benefit of the state and through that the CM can have one less thing to worry about since these officials are responsible towards the roles assigned to them, thus ensuring good governance. 19 IAS, 5 IPS and 1 RAS amount to the 25 retired officials whose services have been taken. In fact 4 retied Chief Secretaries are currently working in the government — Nihal Chand Goyal is the Chairman of RERA, DB Gupta is Chairman of Information Commission, Rajeeva Swarup is Chairman of the Environment Impact Assessment Authority while Niranjan Aryra is advisor to CM. Meanwhile, two senior IAS — Arvind Mayaram and Govind Sharma — have been included in Gehlot team right after the Gehlot government was formed for the third time in the State. Madhukar Gupta — who retired in September 2020 — has been called back after two and a half years and five months back, he ws handed the responsibility of State Election Commission. Similarly, Ramlubhaya - who retired in 2012, has been recalled once again and has been given the responsibility of Chairman, New Districts Formation Committee. Notably, in his previous stint, CM Gehlot had called Ramlubhaya after retirement and handed him the responsibility of State Election Commissioner.

GS Sandhu has been Gehlot’s trusted officer and after retirement, this time Gehlot has appointed him as Advisor to the UDH Department and given him the responsibility of Prashasan Shehro/Gaon Ke Sang campaign. Whereas another retired IAS BN Sharma has been given the important responsibility of Chairman of Electricity Regulatory Commission. Moreover, IAS BN Sharma, who retired in July 2022, has been made a member in the commission. Similarly, Bannalal (retired 2017) has been appointed as member secretary in Finance Commission and Khemraj (retired 2019) has been appointed as Chairman of the committee formed for state government employees’ demands. Moreover, Shailendra Agrawal and Salvinder Sohta have been appointed as RERA members. Three other IAS - Jagroop Yadav, Matadeen Sharma and Chetan deora - have been appointed as members of of Appellate Tribunal (RAT) along with retired IAS Suchi Sharma and retired RAS Lekhraj Toshwara. Must like IAS, 5 IPS have also ben accorded responsibilities. Former DG Bhupendra Yadav was given the top posting of RPSC Chairman after retirement in 2020. After his retirement, once again another IAS — Sanjay Shotriya — has been made RPSC Chairman. Similarly, IPS Alok Tripathi, who retired from forces as ADG, has been appointed as Chancellor of Jodhpur Police University. Retired IPS Hari Prasad Sharma was accorded the important post of Chairman, State Services Selection Board while former DG of BSF - ML Kumawat - has been made the chairman of committee set up to suggest measures to end cheating in exams. It is believed that CM Gehlot’s style of functioning and bringing retired bureaucrats in service is going to continue in the future as well, as recently retired IPS BL Soni and soon to retire IAS Pawan Kumar Goyal are also trusted officers of CM Gehlot. It is believed that Gehlot will not let them sit at home after retirement.