Hyderabad : In a move that has triggered intense speculation within Telangana ’s bureaucracy, special chief secretary Jayesh Ranjan has initiated the process of seeking voluntary retirement from the Indian Administrative Service nearly 11 months before his scheduled superannuation. The 1992 batch IAS officer, currently heading the municipal administration department, is widely seen as one of the state’s most influential bureaucrats and a key architect of Telangana’s investment promotion efforts.
Under All-India Services (AIS) rules, officers who have completed 30 years of service or attained the age of 50 can seek voluntary retirement by serving a three-month notice and specifying the intended date of retirement. Sources in the govt said Ranjan is likely to continue at least until the Invest Global Summit, scheduled from Dec 7 to 9, as he is closely involved in preparations for the event. He had also overseen arrangements for the previous Global Summit held in 2025. In 2025, 1999 batch IAS officer Syed Ali Murtaza Rizvi opted for voluntary retirement, citing personal reasons, and later joined a corporate hospital as its chief executive officer. The 1989 batch officer later joined the then BRS govt as an adviser. Among senior civil servants who exited service well before retirement, IPS officer RS Praveen Kumar took voluntary retirement in 2021 with six years of service remaining before joining politics. Similarly, 2006 batch IAS officer Akunuri Murali resigned in 2019, alleging that he had been sidelined and denied significant postings by the then BRS govt.
Sources said Ranjan, who is due to retire in Sept 2027, recently conveyed his decision to chief minister A Revanth Reddy. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Hyderabad | Silver Rate in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad | Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Petrol Price in Hyderabad | Diesel Price in Hyderabad | CNG Price in Hyderabad | LPG Price in Hyderabad Stay updated with the latest Hyderabad news.
However, sources close to the officer said he has only initiated the voluntary retirement from service and has not yet decided on his future. Officials said the state govt can accept the application and even waive the notice period. The development has sparked discussions in bureaucratic circles, with speculation that he may take up a role in the corporate sector after leaving govt service. If less than a year of service remains, approval from the Centre’s department of personnel and training (DoPT) is generally not required, unless there are pending allegations or disciplinary proceedings. In the case of former chief secretary Somesh Kumar, the Andhra Pradesh govt had accepted his VRS and waived the notice period. With preparations now in full swing, the govt may utilise his services until the event concludes. Over the years, Ranjan has played a key role in attracting investments to Telangana. As principal secretary of the IT and industries department under both the BRS and Congress govts, he was instrumental in engaging with major technology firms and investors. He has also been a regular member of Telangana delegations to the World Economic Forum at Davos and is known for maintaining strong relationships with multinational companies and corporate leaders. Somesh Kumar had also taken VRS after being allocated to Andhra Pradesh following cadre allocation disputes and subsequent court directions. Download the TOI App.
If his VRS is accepted, Ranjan will become the second senior IAS officer to leave service in the last year.