Bhubaneswar: Senior Odisha-cadre IAS officer RS Gopalan has reportedly applied for voluntary retirement from service.
Gopalan, a 2001-batch IAS officer, has been working as the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha for last two years. Besides, he is the Principal Secretary to the Excise Department in the State.
The senior IAS officer has reportedly applied for voluntary retirement due to some personal reasons. As per reports, Gopalan has sent his application for voluntary retirement to the State government. He has requested the government to forward the application to the Centre.
The senior bureaucrat has sought voluntary retirement around two years ahead of his scheduled superannuation.
VRS triggers political debate
The decision has triggered a political debate, with the opposition BJD questioning the reasons behind his move. BJD Deputy Leader of Opposition Prasanna Acharya expressed doubts over the reasons behind Gopalan’s decision.
Acharya also reiterated the party’s opposition to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, questioning how more than 20 lakh names could be deleted in a relatively small state like Odisha. “The SIR process is not acceptable at all. How could such a large number of voters be deleted in a small state like Odisha? More than 20 lakh voters, including new voters, were deleted during this complicated process,” Acharya said.
He said the BJD had repeatedly raised the issue and staged protests over the electoral roll revision. “Many IAS officers seeking retirement is creating suspicion. Why they are taking such a decision is also a matter of concern,” Acharya said, alleging that bureaucrats were facing pressure and finding it difficult to adjust to the functioning of the government.
Responding to the controversy, Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said Gopalan had cited personal reasons for seeking voluntary retirement and urged political parties not to attach political motives to the decision. “A senior IAS officer has cited personal reasons for his decision to retire. It should not be given a political colour. It is his personal matter,” Harichandan said.
The Minister also pointed out that a DCP had earlier resigned citing personal reasons.
CEO denies link to SIR controversy
Gopalan said that his decision was a personal one and has nothing to do with the just-completed Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in the state or the controversy regarding the whole exercise in the country. “I have already completed 25 years of service and am now eligible for the pension. I have only about two years of service left. The Odisha administration has taken very good care of me,” Gopalan said.
Referring to the SIR exercise, he said the process had remained smooth in Odisha and that notices had been issued to around 58 lakh voters as part of the exercise. “We have completed the process smoothly in the state. There is nothing behind my decision as is being speculated in the media,” he said.
Gopalan said he may pursue opportunities in the professional field after leaving government service. “In future, I will pursue something in the professional field. I think this is the right time for me. I have done my duty,” he said.
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