Southern States - Andhra Pradesh   

Top IAS official alleges smear campaign

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD March 26. In what could lead to a controversy in bureaucratic circles in the State, the Chief Commissioner of Land Administration, C. Arjuna Rao, a senior IAS officer of the rank of Special Chief Secretary, has alleged that an official in the Chief Minister's office is indulging in adverse campaign against him to malign his image.

Mr. Rao, who is likely to take over as Chief Secretary after the retirement of Sathi Nair this month-end, told newsmen on Wednesday that the officer started the campaign after the CCLA office chalked out a programme for preparing an inventory of Government lands as the latter's friends amongst real estate developers would be adversely affected.

A report appearing in a section of press today over the controversies in the alienation of evacuee property land was an indication of the campaign against him.

Asked about the impact of the report on his prospects of taking over as Chief Secretary, Mr. Rao said it was for the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, to decide as to who should be appointed Chief Secretary and Mr. Naidu had been talking to officials in advance whenever the issue of giving postings to them had come. "I will be happy if I get the post and I will be happy if any of my seniors take over as Chief Secretary. Let us leave it to the wisdom of the Government,'' he said.

Charge in Assembly: The issue of a senior IAS officer, assigning valuable Government land "worth crores of rupees'' in and around Hyderabad to private individuals, prominently figured in the Assembly.

It was raised by the BJP floor leader, N. Indrasena Reddy, through an adjournment motion, as soon as the House took up question hour. He demanded a discussion on the way files pertaining to hundreds of acres of Government land were cleared by the Commissioner of Land Records, in favour individuals. The Speaker, K. Pratibha Bharathi, disallowed the motion.

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