Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jan 21: Chief minister Siddaramaiah has opted to retain senior IAS officer Luthfulla Khan Atheeq, known for his administrative expertise, on a contractual basis post his retirement on January 31.

Atheeq, a 1991-batch IAS officer, will continue as additional chief secretary (ACS) to the chief minister from February 1. The extension of a senior officer at the ACS rank on contract is seen as a rare move in recent times. He currently serves as the CM’s ACS and head of the finance department.

The decision to retain Atheeq is linked to the forthcoming state budget for 2025-26, scheduled for March. This will mark Siddaramaiah’s 16th budget as finance minister, a record achievement.

Hailing from Tumakuru and holding a postgraduate degree in agricultural economics, Atheeq has been closely associated with Siddaramaiah since his first budget in 1995 when Atheeq served as deputy secretary in the finance department. Their collaboration intensified in 2016 when Atheeq was appointed additional chief secretary of finance department.

During the BJP-led administration in 2019, Atheeq was reassigned to the rural development and panchayat raj department. Following Siddaramaiah's return to power in 2023, Atheeq was given charge to lead the finance department.

In related developments, the state government has appointed 1996-batch IAS officer Ritesh Kumar Singh as principal secretary of the finance department. Singh will officially replace Atheeq starting February 1.