Six Gujarat-cadre IAS to retire in four months

Six Gujarat-cadre IAS officers are set to retire in the next four months, including two at the end of the current month, while one more IAS, RM Patel, has opted for voluntary retirement to contest the upcoming assembly elections.

According to officials, Vilasini Ramchandran, a 1977-batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre, who is currently serving as secretary in the union ministry of drinking water and sanitation, will superannuate on September 30.

IAS officer of 1979-batch, TS Randhawa, currently posted as additional secretary in department of food & public distribution in Union ministry of consumer affairs, will also retire on the same day.

RM Patel, additional chief secretary of panchayats, rural housing & rural development department, has put in his papers three months before achieving superannuation.

Patel, an IAS of 1977-batch, was to retire on December 31, 2012, but September will be his last month in service owing to his resignation.

Patel, considered a master planner, is very close to chief minister Narendra Modi. While the state government has appointed a number of retired bureaucrats to key posts, Patel is expected to contest the forthcoming assembly polls on a BJP ticket.

1975-batch IAS officer, Varun Maira, who is currently serving as additional chief secretary of general administration department (planning), will retire at the end of October.

Chief secretary AK Joti and S Jagadeesan, managing director of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited, are slated to retire in January 2013. Joti is a 1975-batch IAS officer, while Jagadeesan belongs to the 1980-batch.