Palace intrigues in UP: CS Singhal has his way with predecessor

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh chief secretary Deepak Singhal may have earned his present post against all odds including resentment of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav but he is sparing nothing to stamp his authority even if it involves an ugly row with his predecessor Alok Ranjan.

Deepak Singhal, according to sources, has conveyed some unpleasant messages to Ranjan to vacate his house which is earmarked for the Chief Secretary. The conveyed messages were 'intimidating' and 'unbecoming' of the seniority and post of the Singhal, sources claimed.

Young IAS taught ruling party leader a 'tough' lesson

Alok Ranjan, after his retirement on June 30, had been appointed advisor to the chief minister and was alloted another house in Raj Bhawan colony which is under renovation. Singhal, throwing intra-service decency to the winds has been reported to have conveyed to his predecessor to vacate the house by certain date or he will get it vacated somehow,

By way of law, Ranjan is entitled to retain the house for three months. He himself had got possession of his Vikramaditya Marg residence after six months of his posting as the chief secretary when Jawed Usmani vacated it. Moreover, such issues are settled by senior officers among themselves and do not find place in the public domain but as all know Singhal has his own way.