New guys on the block

A 1972-BATCH Indian Administrative Service officer Naveen Chand Bajpai on Monday took over as the chief secretary replacing R Ramani who has been shifted to an insignificant post of Director General Training.

Law and order to be my top priority: CS

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A 1972-BATCH Indian Administrative Service officer Naveen Chand Bajpai on Monday took over as the chief secretary replacing R Ramani who has been shifted to an insignificant post of Director General Training.

Bajpai, who held the post of Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC), took over charge this evening in the absence of Ramani. The Chief Minister had called Ramani to his residence earlier and informed him of the decision. Ramani thereafter cancelled all his official programmes.

Ramani’s new post is considered insignificant because it has no office, no vehicle or any other infrastructure to incumbent to run the office of DG Training. Senior IAS officer Ravi Shankar Mathur, who retired recently, had been dumped on the post after Neera Yadav took over as chief secretary. Ramani had taken over as chief secretary on October 6, 2005 replacing Neera Yadav who had been shifted as chairperson of Revenue Board. Incidentally, Ramani, too, had taken over charge without his successor being present as Neera Yadav had left office by the time Ramani reached chief secretary’s office.

Asked to comment on factors that might have led to swift change on the top administrative post, Bajpai said he was given orders of appointment as chief secretary this evening. Law and order and the state’s development would be his top priority, said Bajpai. Asked about challenges ahead Bajpai said everyday brought new challenges and the administration was always ready to meet such challenges.

Replying to another question whether reshuffle in the election year would pose a bigger challenge, chief secretary said conducting elections had always been a challenge for the administration. About the Right to Information Bajpai said there should be no hindrance in implementing the Right to Information Act in UP.