A week after additional chief secretary (ACS) of the education department in Bihar, KK Pathak, took earned leave, relinquished his charge, the department faces uncertainty as the officer has now extended his leave till January 31.
Chief secretary Amir Subhani confirmed Pathak’s leave extension but deep ignorance about any effort to appoint his replacement in the biggest department with the highest budgetary provision.
A few days ago the distribution of provisional appointment letters to an estimated one lakh teachers appointed by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC), Pathak had voluntarily relinquished charge after going on earned leave.
His letter, dated January 9, had been sent by director, administration (education department) to the chief secretary and others, including general administration department (GAD) and others.
Pathak had appointed as ACS of the education department in June 2023, but his style of functioning irked and frustrated many, such as the Governor, education minister and legislators his own party.
“In Pathak’s absence, posting of teachers in schools by randomisation process may get postponed. It was to Start from April 15, but the newly appointed teachers may have to wait a bit longer. Pathak used to oversee the process personally,” said a senior official.
However ,the GAD had issued notification handing over charge of the department to special secretary (education) Baidyanath Yadav on January 9 itself, the government is reportedly seeking his replacement. “It is clear that Pathak is in no mood to return and that means the government will have to eventually think his alternatives sooner or later,” said a senior official.
Interestingly, this is not the first time that Pathak, a 1990 batch IAS officer, has left the department in lurch. He had done so in April 2016 also as the principal secretary of the department of prohibition, excise and registration and eventually he was replaced.
In education department, Pathak has had separate two stints and on both occasions things ended abruptly. He tried to set reforms by getting tough on regular attendance of teachers and students, but during his second stint, he was constantly at loggerheads with governor office, his own department minister, BPSC, legislators and teachers’ bodies.
