Centre to HC: Cabinet Secy, an IAS cadre post

Lucknow (PTI): Two days after being stripped of the status of a cabinet minister and as head of the secretariat administration, Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh found himself cornered further when the Centre told the Allahabad High Court that even the post of Cabinet Secretary, which he holds, is an IAS-cadre post.
In an affidavit filed before the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court in connection with a PIL challenging the appointment of Singh, a non-cadre IAS officer, the Centre said that the post of the Cabinet Secretary was "an IAS-cadre post". The PIL has challenged Singh's appointment on this very ground.
The state government also filed an affidavit in the court in this matter informing the latter that Singh had been stripped of the status of a Cabinet Minister and as head of the secretariat administration.
The chief secretary had been made the head of the secretariat administration and necessary changes had been made in the rules, the state government informed the Court. A division bench of Justice Pradeep Kant and Justice S N Shukla directed that the matter be put before them within two weeks.
Chief Minister Mayawati, who had brought in Singh soon after her electoral victory last year, had announced in the state assembly that Singh had, through a letter, requested for being relieved of the responsibility of heading the secretariat administration and the status of Cabinet Minister rank.
The Hindu; Monday, March 3, 2008