The Centre on Monday approved the voluntary retirement of IAS officer VK Pandian, who has been currently serving as private secretary to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

VK Pandian is a 2000-batch Odisha cadre IAS officer, ANI reported.

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) sent a communication in this regard to the additional chief secretary of Odisha’s general administration department.

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“In reference to letter… dated 20.10.2023 from Government of Odisha on the above-mentioned subject, I am directed to convey the approval of the competent authority for acceptance of voluntary retirement of Shri V Kartikeya Pandian, IAS (OD-2000) under Rule 16(2A) of All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement benefits) Rules, 1958 with waiver of the notice period as recommended by the State Government,” said the DoPT communication.

Pandian, who has been holding the post since 2011 and wields considerable influence in Odisha’s corridors of power, is yet to announce his plans for the future.

In recent months, the officer had come under attack from the opposition parties in Odisha for his style of functioning, especially his whirlwind tour of the districts using the state helicopter. The opposition BJP and Congress had accused Pandian of violating service rules, Indian Express reported.

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Originally from Tamil Nadu, Pandian made a mark during his tenure as Collector of the state’s larger districts, such as Mayurbhanj and Ganjam – the Chief Minister’s home district. His work in Ganjam is believed to have drawn the Chief Minister’s attention to Pandian, and by May 2011, he was in Patnaik’s office as his private secretary. Pandian has continued in the post since, not once going for central deputation unlike his colleagues.

Pandian is considered to be the brainchild of several government schemes and initiatives in recent years. The ‘5T initiative’, which has its footprint in almost every government department, is believed to be his idea. It was launched in Patnaik’s fifth term to “overhaul” the administrative apparatus.