SHILLONG: Chief Secretary WMS Pariat, who was on leave for more than 4 months, has resumed office recently.
However, he will only serve a month before his retirement following the extension for six months that he received from January.
There was a criticism in the past from several quarters for extending the service of the Chief Secretary. And moreover, the extension was also futile as he did not attend office for many months due to his illness. The reason for extending the service of Pariat, according to the Chief Minister, was that he was more efficient and the Government wanted the service of Pariat for the conduct of district council and Lok Sabha polls.
However, it was in the absence of Pariat that the district council and Lok Sabha polls concluded peacefully when the senior official Barkos Warjri was made officiating Chief Secretary.
It is yet to be known whether Warjri will succeed Pariat as the next Chief Secretary since indications are that the Government has other plans