Currently, there are over 70 vacant posts of joint secretary but the government elevated 61 officials, including 55 from the administration cadre and one each from six other cadres--audit and accounts, customs and excise, education, health, agriculture and public works.

All the promotees have been made officer on special duty (OSD) and placed at the Ministry of Establishment.

Sources pointed out that the officers who held important positions at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Ministry of Establishment or served as private secretary to influential ministers or deputy commissioners dominated the promotion list.

The Ministry of Establishment had prepared a list of 275 deputy secretaries from BCS different batches, who fulfilled the promotion criteria, but finally approved 71 of them for promotion. This has created resentment among the rest, sources mentioned.

When contacted, a top official at the PMO said there will be more promotions to posts of joint secretary by the end of this year. The government cannot promote at a time all officials who fulfilled promotion criteria for lack of vacancies.

The official rejected allegations of politicisation saying that promotions were given on the basis of merit and efficiency of the officers.