Odisha Govt Rejects IAS Officer Sujata Karthikeyan’s Leave Extension Application

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has rejected the application of IAS officer Sujata R Karthikeyan, wife of former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s close aide VK Pandian, for extension of child care leave (CCL).

She has been asked her to join the duty on Wednesday.

In an official letter, issued by Manoj Kumar Mohanty, additional secretary, to Karthikeyan, the General Administration and Public Grievance department informed about the government decision.

“I am directed to invite a reference to your letter of Dt 04.11.2024 (sanction of extension of CCL for six months from November 27) and say that after careful consideration, your leave application for extension of CCL is not acceded to. You are, therefore, requested to join on 27.11.2024 i.e. after availing of the CCL from 31.05.2024 to 26.11.2024,” read the letter.

The 2000-batch IAS officer had been on child care leave for six months from May 31, a day before the last phase of polling in the 2024 Lok Sabha election in Odisha. The General Administration and Public Grievance Department had granted the leave and issued an official letter on June 5.

In May this year, the Election Commission had ordered immediate transfer of Sujata to a non-public dealing department following complaints of alleged misuse of public office. She was then holding the post of commissioner cum secretary in the Department of Mission Shakti.