Odisha Home Department Seeks Details on Re-engagement of Retired Officers

The Odisha Home Department has requested information regarding the appointment and re-engagement of retired officers across various departments. OSD-cum-Deputy Secretary has sent a letter to key officials, including the Odisha DGP, Chief Resident Commissioner at Odisha Bhawan in New Delhi, Chief Electoral Officer, Director of Intelligence, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Odisha State Police Housing and Welfare Corporation, Registrar (General) Orissa High Court, and Director of Odisha Judicial Academy, among others.

According to official sources, information has been requested from 13 different departments. Authorities are to provide details in a specified format, including the names of retired officers, their designations, places of posting, remuneration, and duration of their engagements.

This initiative is speculated to aim for increased transparency within various departments. There are allegations that the re-engagement of retired officials often benefits the ruling party. Given the recent change in Odisha’s government, this development holds significant importance. Notably, three officials in the Odisha Chief Minister’s office resigned on June 6, shortly after the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) was defeated in the recently concluded assembly election.

Among those who resigned were retired IAS officers R Balakrishnan and Suresh Chandra Mahapatra, who served as chief advisor for Special Initiatives and chief advisor in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) respectively. Additionally, Manoj Mishra, the principal secretary of the IT and electronics department, had resigned earlier.