Rizvi’s decision to opt for VRS raises political row

All India Services officer Syed Murtaza Ali Rizvi’s sudden decision to take voluntary retirement from service has raised a controversy.

The administrative and political circles were abuzz with the development and political parties went ahead to criticise the state of affairs in the Government, where the officials were allegedly facing pulls and pressures from the powers that be.

The senior bureaucrat tendered his papers citing personal reasons, but pressure from the powers that be is not being ruled out. However, senior officials close to the officer said that the VRS may have to do with personal reasons, more than adminstrative reasons.

Holding the portfolio of Secretary of Commercial Taxes and Excise in the Revenue department, Mr. Rizvi is said to have developed differences with Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao on certain issues. Differences between the two cropped up in respect to award of a contract for printing holograms to be affixed on liquor bottles, except beer, and the manner in which Mr. Rizvi was allegedly sitting on files sent by the Minister for his clearance.

Regarding the holograms, the Minister was reportedly keen that new tenders be invited for selecting the company to manufacture them as they were not called for several years. Holograms are affixed on liquor bottles that contain details like its manufacturers, shop where it was sold and others. “This will also help detect whether the bottle is from within the State or outside,” a senior official said.

Meanwhile, the Minister addressed a letter to the Chief Secretary alleging ‘insubordination’ on the part of Mr. Rizvi and demanding action against him on disciplinary grounds. Mr. Jupally, in his communication, reportedly expressed displeasure that the Excise Secretary was reporting to the Chief Minister’s Office in utter disregard for the Minister holding the portfolio.

Mr. Rizvi was apparently also peeved by the manner in which he was transferred to different departments in the past couple of years. He worked as the Principal Secretary of health, Chairman of power utilities, and Secretary in the General Administration Department before being made Commercial Taxes and Excise Secretary.