Lucknow: Senior IAS officer Surya Pratap Singh has sought voluntary retirement (VRS) from the Akhilesh Yadav government, saying it was “impossible for an honest officer to work” in the existing administrative set up of the Uttar Pradesh government.

Singh, who is 59 and due to retire this December, plea for VRS, made in a letter to state chief secretary Alok Ranjan on Thursday, came amid resentment among sections of the bureaucracy against the Akhilesh regime for its perceived victimisation of officers who do not toe the line of their political bosses.

“It is impossible for any officer to work with sincerity and honesty in Uttar Pradesh. Please treat this letter as my decision to opt for voluntary retirement. I want to devote myself to social work for the rest of my life. I will continue till I receive your order granting me voluntary retirement,” Singh, a native of the state, said in his seven-page letter.

Singh, a 1982 batch officer, is now principal secretary in the bureau of public enterprises – perceived as an insignificant posting. On his move, Singh said: “I feel relieved now of the huge burden of being an IAS officer. I was unable to do much for the poor. I will now try to work for them without being in the cadre.”

In his letter, Singh painted an unflattering picture of the administration in his home state. “If any IAS officer does not fulfil the illegitimate demands of even a petty local-level ruling party leader, a sword of suspension or transfer hangs over his head.”

Singh pointed out that “every week 24 IAS and IPS officers get transferred in Uttar Pradesh” and of 200 such officers suspended across India in the past 15 years , 105 were from the state.

Singh pasted his VRS letter in his Facebook post, has gone viral on the internet with near million views in the last 2 days.

Singh had also openly backed IPS officer Amitabh Thakur, who is embroiled in an allegation battle with Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.