Srinagar, Nov 11: What could bring about some relief to the J&K Government, at least four IAS officers who are presently on deputation at the Government of India are set to return to the State in March 2013 in the wake of completion of the task.
 While senior officials in the state administration believe that the return of IAS officers wouldn’t fill the vacuum created by no inductions made in mid 80s, they say the move will help ease some pressure on the top officers facing the burden of additional charges. The officials said the return of bureaucrats would pave way for others to go for central deputation.
 Highly placed sources told Greater Kashmir that the IAS officers, who shall return after completing their deputation in March 2013, include PK Tripathi, AK Mehta, Rakesh Gupta and Neeraj Gupta. “Their deputation period will end and they will join the higher ranks (in state administration) soon after their return. Since they don’t possess 20 years of experience, they can’t be given top ranks in the administration,” said a source, privy to the development. “But yes, their return will certainly ease some pressure from the top officers including Principal Secretaries, who are presently holding additional charge of various departments.”
 A senior officer said the return of IAS officers can’t fill the vacuum created by no inductions made in 1982, 1983 and 1984. “We shall continue to face shortage of officers. However, the pressure would certainly be less on the officers who are over-burdened by additional charge.”
 Pertinently, at least 18 IAS officers from J&K are on the central deputation at present. The figure is not, however, above the permissible limit of 25 percent (for such deputation).
 Sources said there are already six vacancies in the state IAS cadre at the moment. The state government, they said, had been repeatedly writing to the Government of India to repatriate some IAS officers to meet the shortage but has been unsuccessful so far. Even the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has, sometime back, written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking return of some IAS officers to meet the exigency in the state administration. The letter, written in June 2011, is yet to be acted upon, on ground.
 According to sources the IAS officer Gupta is presently additional secretary at the Union Public Service Commission. He was relieved in 2006 for three years deputation which was extendable by another two years. Similarly, Tripathi is Advisor, National Management Authority at the Ministry of Home Affairs. He was relieved for deputation in 2005. Mehta is the Chief Vigilance Officer, Dedicated Freight Corridor, Corporation of India Limited, New Delhi. He was relieved in 2005 for five years but his tenure was extended. Neeraj Kumar Gupta, who was working as Executive Director in India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) was recently sent back to Uttar Pradesh cadre. Sources said Neeraj has already completed his tenure of Central deputation and will be posted in JK by March 2013 along with his three other colleagues.

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