Bhubaneswar: In a major development, senior Odisha cadre IAS officer and 5T Secretary V K Pandian has taken voluntary retirement from service (VRS), official sources said on Monday.
Pandian had recently sought voluntary retirement from service and his request has been approved by the Central government. The voluntary retirement of Pandian, a 2000 batch IAS officer, has been approved by the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions.
“I am directed to convey the approval of the competent authority for acceptance of voluntary retirement of V Karthikeyan Pandian, IAS (OD-2000) under Rule 16 (2A) of the All India Services Rules, 1958 with the waiver of the notice period as recommended by the State Government,” said a letter from the Under Secretary to Government of India, Bhupinder Pal Singh to the Additional Chief Secretary of Odisha’s General Administration & PG Department.
As Pandian’s move sparked speculations about his possible entry into politics, political observers were of the opinion that by opting for voluntary retirement the much talked-about bureaucrat has sent out a clear signal about his next course of action.
Pandian has been in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) since 2011.
