Hooda writes to Centre for chief secretary's extension

Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is learnt to have sought a three-month extension of service for incumbent chief secretary Shakuntala Jakhu from the central government. A 1978-batch IAS officer, Jakhu took over as chief secretary on August 1 and retires on September 30.

Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is learnt to have sought a three-month extension of service for incumbent chief secretary Shakuntala Jakhu from the central government. A 1978-batch IAS officer, Jakhu took over as chief secretary on August 1 and retires on September 30.

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Sources said the state government has made a request for a further three-month extension in service for Jakhu under the provisions of All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefit) Rules, 1958. As per the rules, a member of the all India service holding the post of chief secretary to a state government may be given extension of service for a period not exceeding six months on the recommendation made by the state government with full justification and in public interest with the prior approval of the Centre.

While Haryana's earlier requests regarding extension of service for former chief secretaries, PK Chaudhery and SC Chaudhary, were made during the reign of Congress-led UPA government, it remains to be seen how the NDA-led Centre responds to the plea of Jakhu's extension.

The opposition parties, including the BJP and the INLD, have been critical of the move to give extension in service and re-employment to the officers.