March 29th 2025.
Bhubaneswar: Sujata R Karthikeyan, a senior IAS officer from the Odisha cadre, has been granted permission to take voluntary retirement from her government service. This news was confirmed by official sources on Saturday. Karthikeyan, who is the wife of former close aide of BJD president Naveen Patnaik, VK Pandian, received approval for her request from the Central Government. The letter informing about the approval was sent by Under Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievance and Pensions, Bhupinder Pal Singh, to Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja.
The letter stated, "I am pleased to inform you that the Central Government has approved the request for Voluntary Retirement of Smt. Sujata R Karthikeyan, IAS, with effect from 13.03.2025, in relaxation of the mandatory three months' notice period under Rule 16 of the AIS Rules, 1958. Furthermore, the Government of Odisha is requested to issue a necessary notification in this regard." This news marks the end of Karthikeyan's 25-year career in the Indian Administrative Service.
Karthikeyan, who joined the service in 2000, was serving as the special secretary in the Finance Department before applying for voluntary retirement. According to sources, she made this decision due to personal reasons. Her husband, VK Pandian, had also taken voluntary retirement in October 2023 and joined the Biju Janata Dal, headed by Patnaik. However, he later quit active politics after the BJD's defeat in the Assembly polls in 2023, ending the regional party's 24-year rule.
In May 2024, the Election Commission had ordered Karthikeyan's transfer to a department where she would not be dealing with the public, following allegations of misuse of her office. At the time, she was serving as the commissioner-cum-secretary in the Department of Mission Shakti. After the BJD's loss in the elections, Karthikeyan went on a six-month leave, which was granted until November 26 of last year. However, her request for an extension was rejected by the state's BJP government.
This news is a significant development in the political landscape of Odisha, as Karthikeyan's retirement marks the end of her and her husband's career in the BJD. It remains to be seen what path they will choose after their retirement from the Indian Administrative Service. This news also brings to light the importance of personal reasons in an individual's career decisions, even for high-ranking government officials.
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