Relaxing rules, govt okays VRS for former IAS officer Brijendra

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 19

Much to the relief of Brijendra Singh, former IAS officer and BJP candidate from Hisar parliamentary constituency, the Centre has granted him voluntary retirement from service (VRS).

In an alleged case of favouritism, the Centre has waived the mandatory three-month notice period to grant VRS to the 1998 batch IAS officer, who is the son of Union Steel Minister Birender Singh.

Sources said orders for VRS were issued by the Haryana Government today following approval from the central government.

The officer had recently sought VRS under Rule 16 (2-A) of the All India (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits),1958, Rules, to contest the Hisar Lok Sabha seat where he is pitted against sitting MP and JJP leader Dushyant Chautala. The Congress is yet to name its candidate from Hisar.

Earlier, Hemant Kumar, an advocate of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) contending that the power to relax the three-month notice period was not available to the state or central government in case of officers who had completed more than 20 years of service. He also contended that the officer should have resigned from service and not sought VRS.

Later on April 15, Hemant Kumar moved an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act to the DoPT seeking clarification on VRS to officers having over 20 years of service without serving the mandatory three-month notice. The RTI application was transferred to the Cabinet Secretariat of the central government yesterday.