State increases number of SCS cadre HoDs in proportion to IAS

VISHNU NEOPANEY
GANGTOK, 07 Sept: In a move aimed at balancing the number of State Civil Service bureaucrats heading departments in proportion to officers of the Central Civil Services, the state government has increased the number of the SCS cadre officers in the rank of Special Secretaries from 20 to 25. This increase, coupled with the number of State civil servants who get promoted into IAS cadre, is expected to address a long pending aspiration of local officers and also facilitated improved service and administration. The powers and functions of a Special Secretary are at par with a Head of Department.
Recently, the Cabinet had approved the proposal to increase the number of State Cadre officers in the Special Secretary and Secretary ranks in proportion to those from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) cadre since a large number of IAS officers of Sikkim Cadre have opted for deputation to other states and in the central government.
At present, Sikkim has a strength of 48 IAS officers in the Secretary rank, of whom 14 are promotees from the State Civil Service, and the remaining 34 are directly appointed from the central cardre. Since a large number from the IAS officers are on deputation outside, several posts of secretaries and heads of State Government Undertakings are lying vacant and the state government has decided to increase the number of Special Secretaries in the state, all of whom are drawn from the State service.
This will also help maintain the administrative balance between the two cadres, said a senior official of the Department of Personnel.
The increase in the state cadre to 25 at the Special Secretary level and 14 promotees will raise the strength of the state’s own officers at the top posts.
At present, Sikkim has 48 departments and various state run Public Sector Undertakings which needs another 10 Secretary level officials for which the decision to increase the number of Special Secretaries was taken.
Official sources also add that these are key strategies of the state government to address the 1:3 ratio maintained between officers from State civil service and those from central services.