Ample indications were available here on Saturday to the effect that Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy may opt to extend by three months, the term of Minnie Mathew as Chief Secretary which is expiring on January 31, 2013.
Under the existing service rules, a Chief Minister can extend the term of Chief secretary for a maximum period of three months without the Centre’s concurrence. Highly-placed sources said the Chief Minister was inclined to ask Ms Minnie Mathew to continue, unless she insisted on going, as he was “impressed by her style of functioning as the head of the State bureaucracy”, sources said.
On the other hand, Ms Minnie Mathew may want to join the Kerala Administrative Tribunal as a member, a position now being enjoyed by her husband, Mathew C. Kunnumkal.
His term, however, is expiring shortly, the sources added.
Who will be preferred to the fill top slot if she opts to go? Speculations are doing the rounds to the effect that if such a situation arises, the Chief Minister may have to choose one among three IAS officers if seniority of service is considered--I. V. Subba Rao, now on a top UNESCO assignment, I. Y. R. Krishna Rao, Special Chief Secretary, Agriculture, Cooperation & Marketing, and Prabhakar D. Thomas, Special Chief Secretary, Rain-Shadow Area Development.
It appears that the possibility of M. Samuel holding the special chief secretary rank, is ruled out for two reasons - he is facing CBI charges and he is shifted from the post of Chief Commissioner Land Administration (CCLA) and asked to take full charge of Environment, Forests, Science & Technology instead. The CCLA is a post from where IAS officer is traditionally picked up for CS slot.
Mr Subba Rao is reportedly unwilling to leave the UNESCO. Mr Prabhakar D. Thomas has always been kept in loopline.
A few other IAS officers, who are senior to all these officers, however, are on deputation with the Centre.
