INLD urges election commissioner to bar chief secy’s extension
The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) on Wednesday wrote to chief election commissioner (CEC) VS Sampath, urging him to bar the extension of the service of chief secretary Shakuntala Jakhu, which was sought by the state government.
The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) on Wednesday wrote to chief election commissioner (CEC) VS Sampath, urging him to bar the extension of the service of chief secretary Shakuntala Jakhu, which was sought by the state government.
In the letter, INLD national general secretary RS Chaudhry said there were reports that the state government had sought extension for Jakhu, who was to retire on September 30, 2014.
It said such extensions meant that the services of the secretary were indispensable and that there were no serving officers competent enough to run the administration at a time when the Election Commission of India was in the process of conducting the Vidhan Sabha polls.
The letter stated that there was a pressing reason to ensure that Jakhu’s service was not extended as news reports suggested that her husband Ramendra Jakhu, a former IAS officer, was in contact with the election-in-charge of a leading political party, and was hoping to contest the polls as that party’s candidate.
Stating that Jakhu was a close relative of Kumari Selja, former union minister and now Rajya Sabha member from Haryana, Chaudhry urged the CEC to ensure that the government was not used to favour Ramendra.
He appealed to the CEC to bar the government from granting extension to her.
