Gokul Pati's repatriation to Odisha approved, to be named as Chief Secy today

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: The Centre today paved the way for Defence production secretary Gokul Chandra Pati to become the next Chief Secretary of Odisha as Union Cabinet Committee on Appointment today approved his repatriation to State.

The Odisha Government will announce the name of the 1978-batch IAS officer for top bureaucrat post tomorrow.

Pati's repatriation became imminent after chief secretary JK Mohapatra, who was keen on working at Centre, was relieved to Union Government for his new assignment as the secretary of the Department of Fertilizers in the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.

After the appointment of Mohapatra in Centre got approval, CM Naveen Patnaik gave nod to the appointment of Pati as next Chief Secretary and wrote to the Centre requesting his immediate repatriation.

Earlier, Mohapatra had quit his post on July 25 after being appointed as the fertiliser secretary in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertiliser.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow Pati to return to his State Cadre as he wanted his services as next Chief Secretary of the state, sources said.

They said Pati is likely to take new charge on August 1.

The 1978 batch IAS, Pati has earlier served the state government in various capacities including Secretary of Rural Development and Industries.

However, Pati was on central deputation since 2006.