Odisha IAS Officer Sujata Karthikeyan Joins Duty After Rejection Of Leave Extension Application

Bhubaneswar: Senior IAS officer Sujata Karthikeyan, wife of V K Pandian, joined duties on Wednesday a day after the Odisha government rejected her leave extension application.

Sujata, Special Secretary, Finance department, had applied for six months’ leave soon after 2024 general elections. The General Administration and Public Grievance Department had granted the leave and issued an official letter on June 5.

It may be noted that her husband VK Pandian, who was also an IAS officer of Odisha cadre, had taken voluntary retirement in 2023 and subsequently joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

The state government rejected Sujata’s application for extension of child care leave (CCL) and asked her to join the duty on Wednesday.

In an official letter issued issued to her by Manoj Kumar Mohanty, additional secretary, 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.