Moradabad, Aug 17: IAS officer Aunjaneya Kumar Singh, a 2005-batch Sikkim cadre official who has been serving in Uttar Pradesh on inter-cadre deputation for more than a decade, relinquished charge as Divisional Commissioner, Moradabad, after his latest deputation term expired on 15 August 2026, northblocksouthblock.com reported.
Handover and immediate arrangements
According to the report, Singh handed over the divisional charge to District Magistrate Dr Rajendra Pensia before proceeding on leave. The handover follows the lapse of what had become a sequence of seven deputation extensions permitting him to work in Uttar Pradesh despite belonging to the Sikkim cadre.
The state’s Appointment and Personnel Department has, the report added, forwarded a proposal seeking another extension for Singh to the Chief Minister’s office. The file remains pending and has not yet secured the state executive’s approval; only after state clearance can the proposal be sent to the Central Government — principally the Department of Personnel and Training — for further processing.
"The proposal has not yet received the Chief Minister’s approval," the report said.
What the procedural steps mean for local administration
Until formal approval from the state and subsequent concurrence from the Centre, Singh’s deputation is treated as concluded and the temporary arrangement that placed him in charge of the Moradabad division stands discontinued. That affects the division’s continuity of leadership at a time when divisional commissioners play a key role in coordinating development, law-and-order and disaster-response activities across districts.
- Deputation expiry: 15 August 2026.
- Number of previous deputation extensions: seven.
- Interim in-charge: Dr Rajendra Pensia assumed divisional charge.
Background and implications
Singh came to public attention during his tenure as District Magistrate of Rampur, where his administration took high-profile action against Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan — a posting frequently cited in coverage of his career. The report said his extended stay in Uttar Pradesh has been notable because it continued across governments led by different political parties, an unusual administrative trajectory in recent years.
For Moradabad residents, the immediate implication is managerial continuity under an acting divisional arrangement. Divisional commissioners in Uttar Pradesh supervise districts on matters ranging from revenue administration to law and order and coordination of state schemes. Any delay in confirming a permanent arrangement can slow decision-making on projects, postings and inter-district coordination that require a confirmed divisional head.
Timeline at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| IAS batch | 2005 |
| Cadre | Sikkim |
| Deputation extensions | 7 |
| Last deputation expiry | 15 August 2026 |
| Current interim arrangement | Dr Rajendra Pensia handed divisional charge |
The northblocksouthblock.com report is the source for these details. It said the state government had initiated the procedural route for another extension but that the file had not secured final approval at the time of publication. Until the state clears the proposal and the Centre processes it, no formal order can be issued to extend Singh’s deputation.
Administrative watchers in Uttar Pradesh say extended inter-cadre deputations are handled through formal requests from the state to the Centre and require concurrence from both sides; delays in that process can leave key positions dependent on temporary arrangements. For Moradabad division, the next few weeks will determine whether Singh returns under another extension or the state appoints a different officer on a substantive or long-term basis.
There was no immediate word in the report about Singh’s next posting if the extension is not approved.
