Rajasthan chief secretary Sudhansh Pant will have to step down from his post in between following his appointment at secretary, department of social justice and empowerment. Pant is scheduled to join the new post on December 1, 2025 filing superannuation of existing secretary and his batch mate Amit Yadav (1991 batch) of AGMUT cadre. Pant is due to retire in February 2027.
Sudhansh Pant had given this hint at the committee of secretaries meeting on Monday when he told secretaries to get ready for a big shakeup in bureaucracy.
Second time chief secretary transferred to centre in between in Rajasthan
Sudhansh Pant was centre's choice for chief secretary in Rajasthan. He was serving as health secretary in centre, who is a key post. He was appointed as chief secretary on January 1, 2024 immediately after the formation of BJP government in the state. Pant was considered as the bridge between centre and state. Incidentally, he is the second chief secretary in the state to have been transferred to centre in between before completing the tenure. Rajiv Mehrishi was the first one who had to leave in between to join as finance secretary in 2014.
Though former chief secretaries CK Mathew and DB Gupta too had to leave their posts in between but they had remained the cadre. CK Mathew was made chairman Rajasthan Roadways after BJP government came into power in 2013. BJP then had accused Mathew of working at the behest of Gehlot government.
Later in 2020, the then chief secretary DB Gupta had to step down three months before retirement giving way for Rajeev Swarup. Gupta was appointed advisor to Gehlot and post retirement he was made chief information commissioner.
Why Pant was transferred?
Pant had been trying to go back for sometime. He was missing the action at centre. When he was appointed as chief secretary, he was given free hand to mobilise bureaucratic resources in Rajasthan. But later alleged tussle with CMO over major decisions and transfer dampened his spirit. In the last few meetings with bureaucrats, he was being harsh with officers and would single out them for one or the other reasons.
What is the major contribution of Pant?
Pant emphasised on file disposal and punctuality. He was partially successful in achieving these. While file disposal time has been reduced significantly, most officers have also started coming on time.
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