Retired IAS Officer PK Chakraborty Refutes Allegations by Tripura Opposition Leader, Defends Reappointments of Retired Officials

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, July 11, 2026

A political controversy over the repeated reappointment of retired government officials intensified in Tripura after retired IAS officer and Secretary of the Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha and Information and Cultural Affairs Department, Dr. PK Chakraborty, strongly rejected allegations made by Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury and threatened legal action against those attempting to defame him.

The controversy began when Jitendra Chaudhury questioned the state government's policy of repeatedly reappointing retired bureaucrats. He alleged that Dr. PK Chakraborty owned multiple houses and flats both within Tripura and outside the state, and demanded an impartial inquiry into his assets and service record.

Responding to the allegations yesterday, BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharjee stated that the officer concerned would answer the personnel accusations himself. He also defended the government's policy of engaging retired officials, saying that governments led by the CPI(M), Congress and the BJP have all utilised the services of retired officers based on their experience and expertise. According to him, this is a common administrative practice across India, including in the Central Government, where retired officials are often engaged for need-based assignments at relatively low cost.

Bhattacharjee further countered the Opposition Leader by claiming that during the Left Front government's tenure, when Jitendra Chaudhury was a minister, several retired officials had also been reappointed to government positions.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Dr. PK Chakraborty categorically denied the allegations levelled against him. He said the claim that he owns houses in Kolkata's Garia area and Agartala's Abhoynagar is completely false. He clarified that the house at Banamalipur was purchased after his retirement using the lump-sum retirement benefits received by him and his wife.

Dr. Chakraborty also rejected allegations relating to an alleged land irregularity during his tenure as Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Belonia. He explained that the possession certificates for government (khas) land issued during his tenure were granted strictly in accordance with the prevailing government rules and regulations. He pointed out that the Left Front government was in power at the time and that several possession certificates had also been issued by his predecessor. Questioning why he alone was being singled out after nearly 25 years, he alleged that attempts were being made to tarnish his reputation for political reasons.

Warning those behind what he described as a conspiracy to defame him, Dr. Chakraborty said he was prepared to file a defamation suit against anyone making false and baseless allegations.

On the issue of his repeated reappointment after retirement, Dr. Chakraborty maintained that his appointments were made strictly in accordance with the government's policy and public interest. He also claimed that successive Left Front governments had similarly reappointed several retired officials, presenting this as evidence that the practice has long existed irrespective of the political party in power.

The exchange has sparked fresh political debate in Tripura over transparency, accountability and the continued engagement of retired bureaucrats in key government positions, with both the ruling BJP and the Opposition citing precedents from previous administrations to justify their respective positions.

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