SHILLONG: The Government’s move to extend the service of Chief Secretary WMS Pariat by six months in January this year has turned into a futile exercise since the Chief Secretary has been unable to attend office on health grounds.
Additional Chief Secretary Barkos Warjri has been officiating as the Chief Secretary since January as Pariat was able to attend to his duties only for a few days after being granted six months’ extension.
While announcing the extension to Pariat, Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma had argued that the services of an experienced bureaucrat like Pariat was required for smooth conduct of the district council and Lok Sabha elections.
Another reason the Chief Minister had cited was that since Pariat was an efficient officer his service was required.
However, both the Chief Minister and the State Government have now been left red-faced since both the elections were conducted in a peaceful manner under the leadership of Warjri as the acting Chief Secretary.
Sources claimed that it was ironical that Warjri is yet to be appointed as the Chief Secretary with less than three months left for Pariat’s extended term to come to an end.
Sources also pointed out that Pariat would not be able to attend to his duties for several days more due to his ill health.
There was criticism from several quarters after extension was granted to Pariat despite the presence of senior and efficient officers, Warjri for one, who could have easily executed the responsibilities of a Chief Secretary.
Even though the Chief Minister had defended the extension of service to Pariat, the Chief Secretary had maintained a stoic silence when he was approached for his reaction on the extension of service.
