New Delhi: A key question is doing the rounds in official circles in the capital — who will be the next Cabinet Secretary, the top-most officer in the IAS hierarchy and a pivotal coordinator of the Union government.
The incumbent, Tamil officer T.V. Somanathan, is due to retire by the end of next month. While extensions are common for the post, discussions suggest he has conveyed to the Prime Minister that he does not want an extension, though a continuation is still being seen as possible in the current circumstances.
Somanathan is also credited with helping prepare, within two days, a draft bill to set up a special fast-track court aimed at finding a solution to the ongoing protests linked to the NEET issue.
If an extension is not granted, two names are being discussed as part of the consideration list: Saranyan Krishnan and Govind Mohan. Krishnan, an officer from Tamil Nadu, is currently Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and is known for work related to artificial intelligence, besides being seen as close to the Prime Minister.
Govind Mohan, currently the Home Secretary, is also being spoken of as a contender, having advised the government during several difficult moments. The Union government is expected to announce the Cabinet Secretary by this weekend or in the first week of August.
