Patna: Two senior IPS officers and an IAS officer, heading key institutions in Bihar, have proceeded on leave at the same time, triggering discussion in administrative and political circles.Bihar DGP Vinay Kumar is on a 21-day leave, BPSC chairperson Parmar Ravi Manubhai is away for 25 days, while Bihar Police Sub-ordinate Services Commission (BPSSC) chairperson K S Dwivedi has proceeded on a month-long leave. The DGP, a 1991-batch IPS officer, has been granted leave from Sept 15 to Oct 5.The home department’s notification cites health reasons for the DGP’s leave. He said he had not availed of leave travel concession (LTC) benefits for the past 10 years and declined to comment on speculation surrounding his leave. Following his absence, Preeta Verma, the 1991-batch IPS officer and DG of home guards and fire services, has been given additional charge as acting DGP. With the appointment, Verma has become the first woman IPS officer to head Bihar Police.Kumar’s scheduled two-year tenure as DGP ends on Dec 12, 2026. According to the available information, two possible assignments are being discussed for him after his tenure: BPSSC chairperson’s post and that of Bihar’s State chief information commissioner, which has remained vacant since July 31. Kumar is reportedly reluctant to take charge of BPSSC as his predecessor K S Dwivedi is currently heading the commission.Meanwhile, BPSC chairperson Parmar Ravi Manubhai will remain on leave from Sept 15 to Oct 9 for personal reasons. Senior IAS officer (1992-batch) Harjot Kaur Bamhrah has been given charge of the commission during his absence. The development comes at a time when BPSC is preparing for TRE-4 examination.BPSSC chairperson K S Dwivedi has also proceeded on leave from Sept 15, with family reasons being cited. The commission has been facing scrutiny amid an EOU investigation into alleged irregularities in sub-inspector (mains) examination, while candidates have been demanding cancellation of the examination.Senior IPS officer Jitendra Kumar, chairperson of Central Selection Board of Constable Recruitment, is being discussed as a possible choice for additional charge of BPSSC. However, an official notification regarding this has not yet been issued.
