n what is perhaps the shortest term ever for a Rajya Sabha secretary general, PPK Ramacharyulu has been removed from the post just 10 weeks after his appointment.
PC Mody, former chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes, has replaced him as secretary general of the Upper House.
Mody’s appointment marks a rare occasion of an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer becoming the Rajya Sabha’s secretary general. The position has traditionally been reserved for Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers or senior parliament secretariat officers.
Former Uttarakhand cadre IAS officer Utpal Kumar Singh is the current Lok Sabha secretary general.
“PC Mody, former chairman of the CBDT, will be the new secretary general of Rajya Sabha. Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, the appointing authority, signed the order of appointment to this effect,” said a senior official.
Two senior Opposition leaders, who asked not to be named, expressed surprise at the change of guard.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, in a tweet, said “Not surprised at all. Dr. PPK Ramacharyulu is a thorough professional, non-partisan and perfectly qualified for the post—three deadly sins in the Modi regime.”
Mody, who is likely to take charge on Friday, is a 1982 IRS officer who was given three extensions as CBDT chairman since August 2019.
{{/usCountry}}Mody, who is likely to take charge on Friday, is a 1982 IRS officer who was given three extensions as CBDT chairman since August 2019.
{{/usCountry}}Ramacharyulu, secretary general since September 1, has been appointed as an adviser to the Rajya Sabha chairman.
The secretary general heads the secretariat of the House and is the key lieutenant to the chair for running the affairs.
A secretary-general is appointed by the Chair of the respective House. Retired bureaucrats have been appointed as SGs of both Houses on several occasions but replacing an incumbent in the middle of his term is an unusual move.