The ‘extension raj’ betrays the government’s lack of confidence and faith in professional bureaucrats, feel observers. Otherwise, it would not be necessary for the government to depend on a coterie of cronies, they say. It also reflects poor governance because the chain of succession in the bureaucracy has been well defined and while the government gets to choose the officers at the helm, it would require strong reasons to bypass seniority. All the officers’ given extension would undoubtedly be competent, said one, but some are more convenient than others.Old-timers are shocked though. To promulgate an ordinance to give extension to a ‘favourite few’, or one in the case of Sanjay Kumar Mishra, ED Director, was unthinkable, they felt. Low profile and unassuming, Mishra, a 1984 batch IRS officer, was actually given a three-year extension in November 2020 after he had completed his two-year term, with the order being modified retrospectively. While the Supreme Court held the Presidential order to be ‘legal’ (because the CVC Act spoke of a term ‘not less than two years and could mean ‘more than two years’), it advised the government not to give Mishra another extension.The ordinance promulgated on November 14 amended the law and empowered the Government to do just that. Mishra, whose extension ended on November 17, got a year’s extension that very evening. The ordinance will also allow the government to give him annual extensions till November 2023, which was what the Presidential order intended in 2020, or possibly even longer! Mishra clearly is an invaluable asset.“It is highly unusual to promulgate an ordinance for his benefit. No officer is indispensable,” said several bureaucrats grimly. “The Constitution does not envisage promulgation of ordinances just to extend the tenure of officers beyond superannuation,” quips PDT Achary, former Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha.“It will affect the chain of succession for years to come. Three to four batches will be eliminated each time an extension is given,” explained a serving officer.
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