Bhubaneswar, October 23: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s Private Secretary and trusted IAS officer VK Pandian took voluntary retirement.
The VRS of the 2000 Odisha cadre IAS officer has been approved by the Department of Personnel Training under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
With Pandian taking VRS, speculations are rife now about his possible political course.
According to reports, the Centre on Monday approved the voluntary retirement Pandian, who has been currently serving as Private Secretary to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
The Department of Personnel and Training has sent a communication in this regard to the Additional Chief Secretary of General Administration Department of Odisha Government.
“In reference to letter No.GAD-SER1-PERS-0100-2014 dated 20.10.2023 from Government of Odisha on the above mentioned subject, I am directed to convey the approval of the competent authority for acceptance of voluntary retirement of Shri V Kartikeya Pandian, IAS(OD-2000) under Rule 16(2A) of All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement benefits) Rules, 1958 with waiver of the notice period as recommended by the State Government,” reads the Centre’s letter.
Pandian, who has been serving as the Private Secretary to the CM since 2011 and has been wielding influence in Odisha’s corridors of power, has recently been in the limelight for his whirlwind tour to different districts using the State chopper to hold public grievance meeting.
The opposition BJP and Congress has targeted Pandian for violating service condition rules
Pandian, a native of Tamil Nadu, has also faced criticism from leaders of ruling party as expelled BJD MLA from Nayagarh Soumya Ranjan Patnaik questioned his chopper ride by allegedly spending money from the exchequer.
