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Vyas steps down as Guv’s Advisor, resignation accepted

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 12/13/2018 12:39:15 AM

Proceeding to New Delhi; appointed UPSC member

JAMMU, Dec 12: Governor Satya Pal Malik Wednesday accepted the resignation of his Advisor and former Chief Secretary B B Vyas, who is proceeding to New Delhi to take up his new assignment as the member of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
Though he is flying to New Delhi yet he will formally join as Union Public Service Commission member next week. Earlier this morning Vyas tendered his resignation as Advisor to the Governor. Prior to it, Vyas, who was one among four Advisors to the Governor, shared the presidium with the latter at a press conference in the winter capital, where a compendium of key developmental, welfare and other measures initiated by the Malik’s administration in the state during past 5 months was released.
This was probably Vyas’ last assignment as an Advisor to the Governor along with other three Advisors K Vijay Kumar, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai and K K Sharma, Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam and Principal Secretary to the Governor, Umang Narula in the state, before he could embark on his new assignment in the union capital. His (Vyas’) appointment as UPSC member was cleared earlier this week.
Before taking over as the Advisor, Vyas was the Chief Secretary of the state. So far no replacement has been announced though the name of C Phonsong, another former Chief Secretary of the state, is doing the rounds for the job.
Vyas, whose name was among three members cleared as new members of UPSC by the union government earlier this week, will be the first IAS officer from J&K cadre to be part of the Commission, a constitutional body. Insiders stated that Vyas, himself, was keen to move out of J&K after he was divested of key portfolios of General Administration Department, Power Development Department and Finance in the last reshuffle effected by the Governor in departments held by his Advisors, after Durbar moved to Jammu last month, with the addition of new Advisor K K Sharma- former Chief Secretary of New Delhi.
As UPSC member, Vyas, an IAS officer of 1986 batch, will have a term for nearly next three years. He was appointed as Advisor to Governor on June 20, this year after the then Governor N N Vohra appointed Chhattisgarh – cadre 1987 batch IAS officer, B V R Subrahmanyam as new Chief Secretary of the State. Vyas continued as Advisor even when Vohra was replaced by Malik in August. Earlier as the Chief Secretary of the state, Vyas was granted extension thrice by the Personnel Ministry by amending the service rules on the request of the then Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. He was first granted extension of three months in November 2017 when he was due to superannuate followed by another extension of three months. Later in May 2018, he was given one-year extension.