Eyeing politics, IAS officer pays up Rs 20 lakh to quit job

Eyeing politics, IAS officer pays up Rs 20 lakh to quit job

22 Jun 2008, 0920 hrs IST,TNN

HYDERABAD: Senior IAS officer Debabrata Kantha has paid Rs 20.60 lakh to the Government of India to get relieved from government service. The 1987-batch IAS officer had paid the amount last month after tendering his resignation. Recently, the General Administration Department (GAD) sent the cheque for the amount and his resignation letter to the Union government for its approval. "I have decided to join politics as I find the job no more challenging after working in all capacities. I have decided to serve the poor in my native state of Orissa. If things go as per plan, I may contest on a Congress ticket from Jajpur in the 2009 assembly elections," Debabrata Kantha, who is currently secretary, minorities’ welfare, told 'STOI.' When asked how he managed to mobilise such a huge amount to pay to the government, the IAS officer said, "For me, paying Rs 20 lakh is not a big thing as getting into politics is my aim." "I had to pay this amount as per the bond. The clause in the bond enjoins on an IAS officer to serve three years after completion of studies abroad. If I were to follow the rule, I would have to work at least till 2010. However, since assembly elections in Orissa are due in 2009, I have decided to call it quits," he added. He had gone to the US to do MA (Public Service) at the Maxwell School in August 2006. The Orissa officer who owns a house in the posh Prashasan Nagar does not want to sever his ties with Hyderabad. In 1987, he started his career as assistant collector (trainee) in Chittoor district. During his 21-year stint in the government, he worked as district collector of Karimnagar district, chief rationing officer (CRO), secretary, State Election Commission (SEC), managing director, AP Dairy Development Corporation and Commissioner of Relief and Rehabilitation and now secretary, minorities welfare department.