With just a few days remaining for the arrack ban to come into effect, Finance Secretary S Subramanya has gone on a long leave, much to the surprise of both official and political bodies.

According to official sources, Subramanya has been extending his casual leave once in every two days and has been on leave for many days now — ever since Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who also holds the finance portfolio, held a review meeting of the Finance Department recently.

It is learnt there were heated discussions, especially between Yediyurappa and Subramanya on various issues, including arrack ban, at the meeting.

Besides, Yediyurappa had apparently insisted he release funds for a particular project without bringing it before the State cabinet. But Subramanya is learnt have refused to do so. These issues had apparently upset the officer and hence, he decided to go on leave.

In fact, Subramanya has been heading the department as the secretary, in the vacancy of the post of principal secretary for the last several months. The State budget 2007-08 was also presented in the absence of principal secretary to the department.

According to official sources, the government is now seriously looking out for a senior officer to the post of principal secretary, Finance.

The names of three senior IAS officers are making rounds in this regard: A K M Naik, principal secretary to Water Resource Department, M R Sreenivas Murthy, principal secretary to Panchayat Raj and Rural Development and V P Baligar, principal secretary to Infrastructure Development.