Odisha’s Lok Seva Bhawan Faces Scrutiny Over Long-Term OAS Officers and Alleged Political Ties
The long-standing occupancy of various posts at Odisha’s Lok Seva Bhawan by Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officers has come under scrutiny, with allegations that several officials have been deeply involved in party activities. Questions have arisen regarding whether these positions were retained due to merit or political favoritism, particularly following the recent formation of the new state government.
Reports indicate that many OAS officers have held their positions in Lok Seva Bhawan for over a decade, with some officials reportedly remaining in the same department without any transfers for years. During the tenure of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), allegations surfaced that some non-Odia officials wielded significant power and operated under the directives of the ruling party.
One notable case is Rabi Sethi, husband of former BJD MP from Jajpur, Sarmistha Sethi. Sethi’s career trajectory included appointments as a personal secretary to a minister and the Deputy Speaker before being transferred to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in November 2023. However, it is alleged that Sethi was unofficially involved in various BJD affairs since 2016.
Senior Congress leader Panchanan Kanungo voiced his concern, stating, “An OAS officer named Rabindra Sethi didn’t allow me to meet the Chief Minister. Though I put up a strong protest demanding a meeting with our party president, I was not allowed.”
Aditya Mohapatra, another influential figure, has reportedly been working as the Additional Secretary to the Chief Minister for the past five years. After the 2024 general elections, he has allegedly been working in the General Administration Department without official notification.
Nivedita Prusty, an OAS officer, has been serving as the Joint Secretary in the Housing Department for the last six years, following an extended tenure in the Higher Education Department. Similarly, Sangramjit Nayak, promoted from OAS to IAS, retired after 14 years in the Urban Development Department and received a four-year extension post-superannuation.
Additional cases include Sarada Prasad Panda, who continues to work in his department six months after retirement, and other officers such as Kulamani Mishra and Swayamprabha Mohanty, who have served in the Panchayati Raj Department for 11 and 12 years respectively.
Further scrutiny is on officers like Subhananda Mohapatra, who has been with the Health Department for 10 years, and Santanu Sahoo, who has served in the Finance Department for nine years. Notably, Kuna Barik has been in the Parliamentary Affairs Department for 20 years, while Prafulla Pradhan received a one-year extension after 12 years in the Housing Department.
The Additional Secretary of the General Administration Department, Ganesh Patra, and Abhaya Nayak from the Revenue Department, also received extensions post-retirement. Joint Secretary Ellora Samal has been with the Revenue Department for a decade, and Manas Samal has served as the Land Officer in the General Administration Department for three years.
These extended tenures and reappointments have raised concerns about the administrative transparency and potential political interference within Odisha’s state government machinery. The unfolding situation at Lok Seva Bhawan signals a growing demand for accountability and reforms in the state’s bureaucratic practices.
