Jaipur, Nov. 16 -- The central government has relieved senior IAS officer V Srinivas to the Rajasthan cadre, clearing the way for his appointment as the state's next chief secretary. In an order issued on Friday, the ministry said that the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the repatriation of V. Srinivas on the request of the Rajasthan Government. Although the formal order is still awaited, officials indicate that he may assume charge as early as Monday. A 1989-batch officer, Srinivas is senior to all other contenders in the race, strengthening his position for the top bureaucratic post. Speculation over his appointment intensified after Srinivas met chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma in Delhi on Thursday. Following the meeting, the state government sent a proposal to the Centre seeking his repatriation from deputation. The Centre has now relieved him from his role as secretary in the ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, thereby finalising his return to Rajasthan. Srinivas has had an extensive and distinguished career in the Union government. He has served as Secretary in the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Secretary in the Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare, and has even held additional charge of the Department of Personnel and Training. He has worked in the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Textiles and the Ministry of Culture in various senior roles. During his tenure as Deputy Director of AIIMS Delhi, he launched the Digital-AIIMS project, which became a significant step in digital reforms in healthcare. He also served as an advisor at the International Monetary Fund in Washington. With V Srinivas' repatriation now complete, the Rajasthan government is likely to issue an order for his appointment soon....