The posts146; script

With the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet promoting a large number of officers to the rank of secretary and special secretary in their existing postings, many are eyeing some important secretary positions that are vacant or will fall vacant soon. Many of these officers, particularly those in the special secretary-rank, already have new nameplates in place, as if to remind the powers-that-be that they are in the reckoning. The post of banking secretary falls vacant next week with current incumbent Vinod Rai taking over as the new Comptroller and Auditor General. Petrochemicals Secretary Arun Ramanathan is said to be the frontrunner for the post. Water Resources Secretary Gauri Chatterjee is returning to her parent cadre, West Bengal, creating another vacancy. And with Asha Swarup going to Himachal Pradesh as Chief Secretary, the post of Information and Broadcasting Secretary will also fall vacant. Posting is also due for the office of Disinvestment Secretary, a charge being handled additionally by Finance Secretary D Subba Rao.