Babus queue up for private jobs

It's the best of both worlds for IAS officers these days, as they can enjoy the security of their government job and the comforts of a private sector salary.

Recent changes in the service rules for all-India services like IAS, Indian Police Service and Indian Revenue Service have prompted many senior Maharashtra government officials to seek clearance to join private sector companies.

The new provision "" Section 6 (2) (D) (D) "" in the service rules for all-India services allows senior officials to join the private sector or NGOs for five years, while having a lien on the service.

Sonia Sethi, former joint managing director of City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco), has joined IL&FS, an infrastructure finance company.

Cidco is instrumental in the development of New Mumbai. Former Mumbai collector Mahesh Pathak has joined the GVK group-promoted Mumbai Airport Company Ltd, which is modernising the Mumbai airport.

The state government is in a quandary over the steady increase in such applications from senior officials.

Two officials of the rank of principal secretary, Divisional Commissioner of Pune division Prabhakar Karandikar and Co-operation Secretary Jayant Kawale, have also applied for a lien. They want to join Mahindra Infrastructure, a Mahindra group company.

Sources said IAS officials with experience in infrastructure sectors like road, port, and power were most in demand.