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Kaushal Raj Sharma appointed LG Secretary, moves from Delhi Jal Board

By
LO Bureau
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Kaushal Raj Sharma IAS

Senior IAS officer Kaushal Raj Sharma (IAS:2006:UP), currently serving as Chief Executive Officer of the Delhi Jal Board, has been appointed as Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi with immediate effect on Friday.

Sharma’s appointment marks a significant move within the Delhi administration, placing him in a key position in the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat.

Notably, Sharma had joined the AGMUT cadre (Delhi segment) on inter-cadre deputation from the Uttar Pradesh cadre in May 2025. Within 24 hours of his deputation, he was appointed as CEO of the Delhi Jal Board, replacing Shilpa Shinde (IAS:2006:AGMUT).

At the time of his move to Delhi, there was considerable speculation in bureaucratic circles regarding his possible posting as Secretary to the Chief Minister. However, he was then assigned the crucial role of heading the Delhi Jal Board, which is responsible for managing the capital’s water supply and infrastructure.

A 2006-batch IAS officer, Sharma is known for his administrative track record in Uttar Pradesh, particularly in Varanasi, where he served as District Magistrate and later as Divisional Commissioner. He played a key role in executing major infrastructure and urban development projects, including the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor.

Karnataka IAS Harsh Gupta’s transfer evokes sharp reactions on social media

By
LO Bureau
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Harsh Gupta IAS

The recent transfer of senior Karnataka cadre IAS officer Harsh Gupta (IAS:1997:KN) is creating a buzz on social media, evoking a sharp reaction against it. Gupta was recently transferred from the post of Principal Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department without being given a new posting. But what has stirred reactions on social media is the fact that this is his 30th transfer in his 28-year-long bureaucratic career.

This has happened despite the Chief Secretary of the state issuing instructions that no officer will be transferred without being offered new postings. It has led to people criticizing the transfer with strong comments.

Social thinkers are questioning government action while asking if this was the fate of an honest IAS officer.

Author Kuchchangi Prasanna remembers Gupta’s commendable works, saying Harsh Gupta brought in revolutionary changes in transfer systems of doctors in the health department and also introduced the practice of counseling in it. Yet he was transferred the 30th time without a new posting.

While describing him as an honest officer, Prasanna questions his repeated transfer and rues if this was the fate of an honest officer.

 

Five Additional Judges elevated as Permanent Judges of Chhattisgarh High Court

By
LO Bureau
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Anil Tuteja IAS

The Union government on Friday (April 17, 2026) notified the appointment of five Additional Judges of the Chhattisgarh High Court as Permanent Judges.

The judges who have been elevated are Justice Sachin Singh Rajput, Justice Radhakishan Agrawal, Justice Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal, Justice Bibhu Datta Guru, and Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad.

PM Modi to chair CAPF Officers’ Conference for the first time

By
LO Bureau
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CAPF Officers' Conference

In a first of its kind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to chair a conference of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) officers. The conference has been called to discuss challenges before internal security and how to enhance coordination with other agencies and state police forces.

According to sources, though its schedule is yet to be finalized, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) will be overseeing the preparation of the agenda. To help the IB in this task, all wings of the CAPF have also been asked to prepare the agendas for discussion and submit them by Monday.

The CAPFs have been asked to send the proposed agendas to their respective DGs, who will then submit them to the IB.

A top source pointed out that the objective of this conference is to provide a unified platform for the top leadership of various CAPFs to deliberate upon the role of CAPFs in addressing emerging internal security challenges and to enhance coordination with other agencies and state police forces.

The IB, which is a premier intelligence-gathering institution in the country, also organises annual conferences for the Director and IGs of other forces and investigative agencies.

The event occupies significance as it comes in the backdrop of the Union Government introducing a new law institutionalizing the policy of deputing IPS officers to the CAPFs in senior administrative grade, starting from the rank of IG.

The law, however, evoked sharp criticism from cadre officers of the CAPFs, which comprise the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

The new law reserves 50% of IG rank posts, at least 67% of posts at the Additional Director General level, and all posts of Special DG and DG ranks for IPS officers on deputation.

Former Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s aide ex-IAS Deepak Kumar likely to join NITI Aayog

By
LO Bureau
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Deepak Kumar ex-IAS

Retired Bihar cadre IAS officer Deepak Kumar (IAS:1984:BH), who served as Principal Secretary to former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is reportedly moving to Delhi along with him to assist him as he takes on a larger national role. Media reports point towards Deepak Kumar getting a role in NITI Aayog in a senior advisory position.

This is happening as Nitish Kumar is shifting to national politics, so his trusted aide is also expected to join him to ensure continuity in administration and policy. Deepak Kumar has worked closely with Nitish Kumar across multiple administrative tenures, emerging as one of his most trusted lieutenants in Bihar bureaucracy.

As per reports, the former bureaucrat will be placed in the NITI Aayog to serve as a bridge between the leadership and central policymakers.

Over a long career, Deepak rose from the post of District Magistrate of several districts, including Buxar, Nalanda, Hazaribagh, and Motihari, to holding key positions across departments such as Health, Urban Development, General Administration, Tourism, and Information and Public Relations in Bihar.

Deepak Kumar’s wide experience also saw him being posted as Chairman of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) before returning to Bihar as Development Commissioner.

He was later appointed Chief Secretary in June 2018 and was then appointed Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in February 2021.

The latest move to place him in the NITI Aayog signifies a strategic shift in bridging Bihar’s state leadership with central initiatives. 

IRS officers allegedly evicted from Odisha Raj Bhavan during PCCIT’s courtesy visit

By
LO Bureau
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Map of Odisha

A controversy has erupted in Odisha after two Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers were allegedly subjected to high-handed treatment and taken to a police station from Lok Bhavan during an official visit.

The incident occurred on Thursday when Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (PCCIT), Odisha, Dr D Sudhakara Rao (IRS-IT:1990)—who had assumed charge on April 13—visited Lok Bhavan for a courtesy call on Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati.

While Dr Rao and some officials were allowed to meet the Governor, two IRS officers—Manish Kumar (IRS-IT:2015) and Satya Prakash Mishra (IRS-IT:2023)—were asked to wait in a hall. Despite prior intimation and coordination, they were allegedly removed from the premises at the behest of the ADC (Police) and taken in a police vehicle to the Capital Police Station.

In a strongly worded complaint to the Governor’s Secretariat, Dr Rao termed the action “high-handed” and “unwarranted,” stating that the officers were on official duty under his instructions but were treated as unauthorised entrants. He also flagged that false allegations regarding their sobriety were made, which were later found to be baseless at the police station.

Describing the incident as an affront to the dignity of civil servants, Rao has urged authorities to examine the conduct of the concerned security personnel and ensure that such incidents are not repeated. Copies of the complaint have also been sent to the Odisha Home Secretary and the Director General of Police.

Sources said Lok Bhavan has taken serious note of the matter and ordered an internal inquiry. The Commissionerate Police have also initiated a separate probe, describing the episode as a “serious misunderstanding.”

The incident has triggered concern in bureaucratic circles, particularly as it occurred during a formal courtesy visit by a senior officer who had just taken charge of his new assignment.

Supreme Court rejects plea against ECI’s transfer of bureaucrats in West Bengal

By
LO Bureau
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Exclusion of CJI from CEC panel

After the Calcutta High Court, the Supreme Court too rejected the plea challenging the transfer of IAS and IPS officers in West Bengal by the Election Commission of India (ECI) following the announcement of elections in the state.

A three-judge bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi heard the matter and rejected the plea against transfer. The apex court, however, has kept the question of law regarding the absence of consultation by the ECI with the state government open for hearing.

Before it, the Calcutta High Court had refused to interfere with transfer orders of Bengal bureaucrats on March 31, saying the mere transfer of a large number of officers does not, by itself, render the action arbitrary, capricious, or mala fide. The High Court, however, had added that the judgment would not come in the way of the individual aggrieved officers challenging their transfer orders. The High Court had also observed that a similar or greater number of transfers/postings of officers had taken place nationwide.

The case emanated from a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Arka Kumar Nag seeking the quashing of transfer orders issued after the announcement of elections on March 15 last month.

The petitioner argued that the large-scale transfer of officers, including the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, DGP, and several District Magistrates, was arbitrary.

IAS Sanjay Kumar Singh emerges frontrunner for Secretary to new Bihar CM

By
LO Bureau
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Sanjay Kr Singh IAS

As the change of political guard often triggers a bureaucratic re-alignment, this is happening in Bihar too. With a political transition having already taken place, it is now the turn of bureaucracy to feel the process of recalibration. With several senior IAS officers opting to proceed on central deputation, all eyes are now set on key appointments in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). Thus, Bihar’s bureaucracy is virtually in a flux at this moment.

With IAS officer Anupam Kumar (IAS:2003:BH), who served as Secretary to former CM Nitish Kumar, moving to the Centre as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, the speculation around his successor in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) is flying thick and fast.

Among the frontrunners, Sanjay Kumar Singh (IAS:2007:BH) is being seen as a leading contender for the post of Secretary to the new Chief Minister, Samrat Choudhary.

Singh is a seasoned bureaucrat currently serving as Secretary in the Commercial Taxes Department of the Bihar govt.

Before it, he was an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) of the Home Department and has served as State Project Director, Bihar Education Project Council (BEPC). He was Managing Director of the Bihar State Educational Infrastructure Development Corporation (BSEIDC) and has also served as Joint Secretary of the Building Construction Department.

Besides, like any IAS officer, he has worked as District Magistrate and Deputy Development Commissioner (DDC).

What goes in Sanjay Kumar Singh’s favour for this appointment to this crucial post is his wide familiarity with state governance and policy implementation.

The fact that this role demands close coordination between the political executive and the bureaucracy, and officers with prior experience across departments are often preferred for such assignments.

Though no official order has been issued yet, a formal announcement is expected soon.

  

 

IAS Hitesh Kumar S Makwana repatriated to Tamil Nadu cadre to avail promotion

By
LO Bureau
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Hitesh Kumar S Makwana IAS

Senior IAS officer Hitesh Kumar S Makwana (IAS:1995:TN), currently serving as Surveyor General of India, has been repatriated to his parent cadre in Tamil Nadu.

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Wednesday (April 15, 2026), the competent authority has approved his repatriation to enable him to avail the benefit of promotion in the state cadre.

Makwana has been serving as Surveyor General of India since November 11, 2023. Prior to this assignment, he was posted as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Notably, he was empanelled for holding Secretary-equivalent posts in the Government of India on February 28, 2026. During his central deputation, the Tamil Nadu government had also promoted him to the rank of Additional Chief Secretary on a proforma basis.

With his repatriation, he is now set to take up responsibilities in the state cadre in line with his promotion. Earlier, before moving on central deputation, he was serving as Principal Secretary and Chief Resident Commissioner, Tamil Nadu House, New Delhi.

Karnataka govt extends DGP Dr. MA Saleem’s tenure till August 2027

By
LO Bureau
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MA Saleem IPS

The Karnataka government has issued a notification continuing senior IPS officer Dr MA Saleem (IPS:1993:KN) as Director General and Inspector General of Police (Head of the Police Force).

The continuation is in compliance with the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment dated September 22, 2006, in the Prakash Singh vs Union of India case, which mandates a minimum tenure for police chiefs to ensure stability in law enforcement administration.

According to the official order issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (Services-4), Dr Saleem will continue in the post until August 29, 2027, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Dr Saleem had initially taken charge as in-charge DG & IGP (HoPF) on May 21, 2025, following the retirement of Alok Mohan (IPS:1987:KN), who completed his two-year Supreme Court-mandated tenure. His appointment was subsequently confirmed on August 20, 2025.

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