West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant has been granted a six-month extension, allowing him to continue in office until December 31.

Pant, a 1991-batch IAS officer, was due to retire on June 30. However, the state government sought an extension from the Centre, which agreed to the proposal.

According to sources, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was pleased with Pant’s handling of several sensitive issues, including the RG Kar rape and murder case, the teachers’ agitation following the Supreme Court ver

“He has become one of Mamata Banerjee’s most trusted crisis managers. With the Assembly election less than a year away, the Chief Minister did not want to lose him as Chief Secretary,” said a senior IAS officer.

The officer added that Pant was initially reluctant to accept an extension but was persuaded by the Chief Minister to continue.