The Punjab government on Tuesday (25.02.2025) issued transfer and posting orders for two IAS officers.
The names of the officers and their postings are as follows;
Virendra Kumar Sharma (IAS:2009:PB), Managing Director, Punjab Health System Corporation with additional charges of Secretary, Health & Family Welfare; Secretary, Punjab State Human Rights Commission and MD, Punjab Small Industries Expert Corporation, has been transferred and posted as Secretary-cum-Director, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs
Surabhi Malik (IAS:2012:PB), Chief Executive, Punjab Energy Development Agency, has been transferred and posted as Director, Industries & Commerce with additional charge of Managing Director, Punjab Small Industries Export Corporation.
Senior IPS officer Abhilasha Bisht (IPS:1994) will have to report to the Andhra Pradesh government after the Hyderabad bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) refused to extend interim relief to her. The tribunal directed that she be relieved from the Telangana cadre and report to Andhra Pradesh.
Bisht had approached CAT’s Hyderabad bench challenging the Union Home Ministry’s order issued on February 21, which directed her, along with two other senior IPS officers—Anjani Kumar (IPS:1990) and Abhishek Mohanty (IPS:2011)—to be relieved from Telangana and report to the Andhra Pradesh government within 24 hours.
The tribunal, comprising judicial member Dr. Lata Baswaraj Patne and administrative member Shalini Misra, heard the petition and issued notices to the Centre, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, asking them to respond to Bisht’s application.
Bisht’s counsel requested a stay on the transfer orders until the Union and state governments filed their responses. However, the tribunal declined to grant a stay. “She can go and join there, and in the meantime, we will hear the version of the Centre and adjudicate the issue,” the tribunal stated.
According to her petition, Abhilasha Bisht was initially allotted to the West Bengal cadre. After marrying an AP cadre IPS officer, she secured a transfer to the AP cadre in 1997. Her plea highlights the presence of two junior IPS officers, Sowmya Misra (IPS:1994) and Shikha Goel (IPS:1994), who also moved to the AP cadre on spousal grounds before her transfer. Despite maintaining seniority above them for over two decades in the All-India seniority list, Bisht alleged that officials manipulated records during the state bifurcation, placing Sowmya Misra above her due to an earlier transfer date.
In her petition before the tribunal, Bisht argued that had the Pratyush Sinha Committee norms been applied properly, she would have been placed in the Telangana cadre instead of AP. She has continued working in Telangana for past 11 years, following a CAT order. However, the MHA has now issued a directive for her to join the AP cadre, decision she has contested.
Meanwhile, following the Union Home Ministry’s directive, the Telangana government relieved IPS officers Anjani Kumar and Abhilasha Bisht on February 22, enabling them to assume their responsibilities in Andhra Pradesh. However, Bisht sought interim relief from CAT.
Additionally, the Telangana government has written to the Election Commission regarding the transfer of Karimnagar Police Commissioner Abhishek Mohanty. With Member of Legislative Council (MLC) elections scheduled in Karimnagar on February 27, the government has requested the State Chief Electoral Officer to decide on Mohanty’s transfer.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday disposed of a plea challenging the 2021 appointment of Rakesh Asthana as Delhi Police Commissioner, deeming it infructuous following his retirement in 2022.
However, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh left open the broader legal question of whether the Prakash Singh guidelines on police appointments apply to the selection of Delhi’s police chief.
The petition filed by Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) had argued that Asthana’s appointment violated the Supreme Court’ssix-month residual service rule for police chiefs. It pointed out that Asthana, a Gujarat-cadre 1984 batch IPS officer, was transferred to Delhi just four days before retirement to assume the post.
The Delhi High Court had upheld Asthana’s appointment in October 2021, ruling that the Prakash Singh guidelines were applicable only to state DGPs, not the Delhi Police Commissioner.
During Tuesday’s hearing, CPIL’s counsel Prashant Bhushanraised concerns about executive overreach in police appointments, arguing that politically endorsed candidates were being placed in key positions, bypassing standard procedures.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Union government, maintained that Asthana’s appointment was made in the public interest and within legal bounds.
While the Supreme Court refrained from ruling on the applicability of Prakash Singh guidelines to Delhi, it noted that it may take judicial notice in future cases if irregularities arise. The matter was disposed of without setting any precedent.
With Madhabi Puri Buch’s tenure as Chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) set to end on February 28, anticipation is mounting over who will take charge of the country’s market regulator. While speculation is rife in power corridors, no one is willing to make firm predictions, as the government has a history of making unexpected choices, often proving speculators wrong—past key appointments suggest the same trend.
www.legendofficers.com has reliably learned that the Financial Sector Regulatory Appointments Search Committee (FSRASC) has completed all formalities and recommended the name of a probable candidate to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for final approval. With the government having completed its procedural requirements, an official announcement is expected soon.
Our sources indicate that a seasoned bureaucrat could be appointed as the next SEBI Chairperson. The names currently under consideration include:
Tuhin Kanta Pandey (IAS:1987:OR) – Finance Secretary & Revenue Secretary
Ajay Seth (IAS:1987:AM) – Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs
Pankaj Jain (IAS:1987:AM) – Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
Ashwani Bhatia – Whole-Time Member, SEBI
Anand Mohan Bajaj (IA&AS:1990) – Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General (Former SEBI Member)
Among these, the first three names—Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Ajay Seth, and Pankaj Jain—are seen as the top contenders.
The central government had invited applications for the SEBI Chairman’s post on January 27, 2025. The appointment will be made based on the recommendation of the FSRASC, which also holds the discretion to suggest a candidate who has not formally applied, provided they meet the eligibility and merit criteria.
Ardra Agrawal (IAS:2007:GJ), currently serving as Directorof Census Operations (DCO)/ Director of Citizen Registration (DCR), Gujarat, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, has been prematurely repatriated to her parent cadre. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (25.02.2025), the competent authority has approved the proposal of O/o Registrar General of India to repatriate Ms. Agrawal to her parent cadre on person grounds with the provision of extended cooling off.
She was appointed to the post of DCO/DCR, Gujarat, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli on December 23, 2021.
In a significant development, the Tamil Nadu government on Monday evening (24.02.2025) issued transfer and posting orders for 13 IPS officers across the state.
The names of the officers and their postings are as follows;
P Balaji, SP/Assistant IG, Welfare, O/o DGP/HoPF, has been transferred and posted as DCP, Redhills, Avadi Police Commissionerate.
Dr. K S Bala Krisshnan, DCP, Avadi Police Commissionerate, has been transferred and posted as SP/Assistant IG, Welfare, O/o DGP/HoPF.
S Brinda, DCP, North Salem City, has been transferred and posted as SP/Commandant, Tamil Nadu Special Police, Regimental Centre, Avadi.
D Ashok Kumar, SP-I, Cyber Crimes Division, Cyber Crime Wing, Chennai, has been transferred and posted as SP/Commandant, Tamil Nadu Special Police VII Battalion, Pochampalli.
S Ayyasamy, SP/Commandant, Tamil Nadu Special Police, Regimental Centre, Avadi, has been transferred and posted as S{/Commandant, Tamil Nadu Special Police XIII Battalion, Chennai.
Dr. Deepa Sathyan, SP/Commandant, Tamil Nadu Special Police XIII Battalion, Chennai, has been transferred and posted as DCP, South, Tiruppur City.
G Subulakshmi, DCP, Koyambedu, Greater Chennai Police, Chennai, has been transferred and posted as DCP, Administration, Greater Chennai Police, Chennai.
K Adhiveerapandiyan, DCP, Administration, Greater Chennai Police, Chennai, has been transferred and posted as DCP, Koyambedu, Greater Chennai Police, Chennai.
C Sangu, SP/Commandant, Tamil Nadu Special Police VII Battalion, Pochampalli, has been transferred and posted as DCP, Traffic, Avadi.
I Shahnaz, Assistant SP, Orathanadu Sub-Division, Thanjavur District, has been promoted and transferred as SP-I Cyber Crimes Division, Cyber Crime Wing, Chennai.
R Uthayakumar, Assistant SP, Sriperumbudur Sub-Division, Kancheepuram District, has been promoted and posted DCP, South Coimbatore City.
NU Sivaraman, Assistant SP, Ramanathapuram Sub-Division, Ramanathapuram District.
P Sibin, Assistant SP, Dindigul Town, Sub-Division, Dindigul District, has been promoted and posted as DCP, North Trichy City.
The Karnataka government on Friday (21.02.2025) issued transfer and posting orders for four IAS officers.
The names of the officers and their postings are as follows;
Munish Moudgil (IAS:1998:KN), Commissioner, Survey Settlement & Land Records, Bengaluru, has been transferred and posted as Principal Secretary, Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (Administrative Reforms), Bengaluru.
Basavarajendra H (IAS:2012:KN), Joint Secretary, Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood, Bengaluru, has been transferred and posted as Commissioner for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, Bengaluru.
CN Sreedhara (IAS:2012:KN), Additional Director, Department of Survey Settlement and Land Records, Rievenue Department, Bengaluru, has been transferred and posted as Commissioner, Survey Settlement & Land Records, Bengaluru.
Bharathi D (IAS:2013:KN), waiting for posting, has been posted as Commissioner, Tumkuru Municipal Corporation, Tumkuru.
Govinda Reddy (IAS:2013:KN), currently serving as Joint Secretary, Infrastructure Development, Ports and Inland Water Transport Department, Bengaluru, has been placed in the concurrent charge of the post of Commissioner, Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), Bengaluru with immediate effect.
The Punjab government on Monday (24.02.2025) carried out a significant bureaucratic reshuffle, transferring eight IAS officers across the state. The transfer list includes four Deputy Commissioners (DCs), three reassigned to new districts and one posted as Managing Director of Punjab State Warehousing Corporation Ltd.
Notably, three IAS officers from the 2018 batch have been appointed as Deputy Commissioners, resulting in a total of six districts getting new DCs.
The names of the officers and their postings are as follows:
Vineet Kumar (IAS:2012:PB), Deputy Commissioner, Faridkot, has been transferred and his services are placed at the disposal of Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare for posting as MD, Punjab State Warehousing Corporation Ltd.
Poonamdeep Kaur (IAS:2013:PB), Deputy Commissioner, Barnala, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Faridkot.
Komal Mittal (IAS:2014:PB), Deputy Commissioner, Hoshiarpur, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, SAS Nagar.
Aashika Jain (IAS:2015:PB), Deputy Commissioner, SAS Nagar, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Hoshiarpur.
Parminder Pal Singh (IAS:2016:PB), Project Director, World Bank Project, Department of School Education-cum-Special Secretary, School Education with additional charge of MD, PUNCOM, has been transferred and his services are placed at the disposal of Department of Local Government for posting as Commissioner, SAS Nagar.
Ankurjeet Singh (IAS:2018:PB), Chief Administrator, Jalandhar Development Authority, Jalandhar, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar.
T Benith (IAS:2018:PB), Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, SAS Nagar, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Barnala.
Viraj Shyamkarn Tidke (IAS:2018:PB), Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), SAS Nagar, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Malerkotla.
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