Bhubaneswar: The Center has approved the proposal to extend the tenure of Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, Chief Secretary of Odisha Government by six months. Official sources gave this information on Friday. Mohapatra was due to retire on February 28. He will now remain in service for six more months, at least until the end of August. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) under the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has informed the state government of the approval.
“I have been directed to apprise me of the approval of the Central Government regarding extension of service of Suresh Chandra Mohapatra beyond six months,” said a letter signed by DoPT Under Secretary Devendra Kumar. The letter, issued on Thursday, is addressed to the Principal Secretary, General Administration and Public Grievances Department, Government of Odisha.
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Sources said that the state government had sent a proposal for extension of service to Mohapatra, a 1986 batch officer of the Odisha cadre of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). Mohapatra was appointed as the Chief Secretary after AK Tripathi retired on January 1, 2021.
According to sources, the extension of service was requested by the Odisha government in view of the rise in COVID-19 cases and the upcoming panchayat and municipal elections in the state. (agency)