Result-oriented bureaucrats

Bureaucrats in Chhattisgarh were eagerly awaiting the Assembly election results in five states - but not for signals of which party will form the next government at the Centre at next year's general elections. They are merely eager for the exercise to be over so that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) can refocus its attention to the issue of extending the retirement age of officials from the all-India service from 60 years to 62. The careers of the three top officials in the state hang on this decision - Chief Secretary Sunil Kumar, Director General of Police Ramniwas and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Dheerendra Sharma. All three are due to retire between January and February 2014. State government officials have been granted the extension already. The file on extending the retirement age for all-India service officials was returned once by the PMO, but has now been sent back to it. Officials expect some sort of decision now that the file is back with the PMO, but that can only be forthcoming once the state elections are out of the way. And it's not just the bureaucrats concerned that are keen for a decision; equally eager are those who have been working hard for the past many months to occupy the coveted posts, should they fall vacant.