AP Chief Minister YS Jagan clears Somesh Kumar’s voluntary retirement request

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagamohan Reddy reportedly approved the request for a voluntary retirement from service by former Telangana Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar.

Somesh Kumar, an IAS officer of the 1989 batch, has submitted his request soon after reporting for duty on January 12, 2023 to AP Chief Secretary K S Jawahar Reddy. Incidentally, Dr Reddy is two years junior to Kumar.

Telangana High Court cancelled the allotment of Telangana cadre to Somesh Kumar in a direction on January 10 and asked hm to be relieved forthwith and directed that he reports to AP Government in two days. In fact, Somesh Kumar approached the central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) challenging his allocation to Andhra Pradesh when Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated into two States. He sought to remain in Telangana.

The CAT granted a stay on the cadre allotment to many officers at that time. The Department of Personnel and Training of the Government of India had eventually approached the Telangana High Court against the CAT order. Meanwhile, Somesh Kumar was promoted as the Chief Secretary of Telangana bypassing several senior officers who were working in the State cadres and also were holding positions in the State Government.

It is said that some BJP leaders approached the DoPT to press for vacation of the stay and an early disposal of the case, especially the one related to Somesh Kumar. The DoPT approached the High Court and the Division bench headed by Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan cancelled the cadre allotment of Somesh Kumar to Telangana and ordered his immediate relief and reporting in the allotted State – Andhra Pradesh.

Soon, Telangana Government appointed a 1987 Batch IAS officer A Shanti Kumari as the Chief Secretary and Somesh Kumar reported in AP Government. On the day of joining itself, he had reportedly submitted his request. The State Government could take a decision on its without consulting the DoPT if an all-India Services officer requests for voluntary retirement, if he/she completes a service of 30 years,

Somesh Kumar, who had a long and chequered career, had many things to his credit and he also drew flak in some issues. Dharani portal meant to streamline land records worked both ways for him.

Considering his ability and knack to garner revenues to the State exchequer, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao might endow Somesh Kumar with an advisory position akin to the first Chief Secretary of the State Rajiv Sharma, who is a Chief Advisor.

Somesh, on his part, had said that he had reported to AP Government and as an officer it was his duty to take up whatever assignment the government would deem fit for him to handle. Officially, Somesh Kumar would retire on December 31, 2023 upon attaining the age of superannuation.