Rajnesh Singh (IRSME:2003), currently serving as Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), has been assigned additional charge of the post of CVO, Engineers India Limited (EIL), Delhi. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on April 17, the competent authority has approved the proposal to entrust Mr. Singh with additional charge during the absence of Ms. Shruti Agnihotri (IRAS:1998), CVO, EIL, from February 28, 2025, to April 28, 2025, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Ranjan Prakash Thakur gets extension as CVO, ONGC
The deputation tenure of Ranjan Prakash Thakur (IRTS:1990) as Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC) has been extended. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on April 17, the competent authority has approved the proposal to extend the deputation tenure of Mr Thakur for a period upto August 31, 2026- the date of his superannuation- or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Two Odisha cadre IPS officers deputed to BSF for key roles
In a significant development, two senior IPS officers from the Odisha cadre have been deputed to important positions in the Border Security Force (BSF). The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday (24.04.2025) appointed Ravi Kanta (IPS:1998:OD) as Inspector General (IG) and Mitrabhanu Mahapatra (IPS:2010:OD) as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in the BSF.
Both officers have been deputed for a period of five years from the date they assume charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier. The MHA has requested the Odisha government to relieve them immediately to enable their joining at the Centre.
Currently, Ravi Kanta is serving as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Home Department of the Government of Odisha, while Mitrabhanu Mahapatra is posted as DIG at the Odisha Police Headquarters in Cuttack.
Himachal High Court pulls govt for appointing HPPS officers on IPS cadre posts
The Himachal High Court came down heavily on the state government for appointing Himachal Pradesh Police Service (HPPS) officers on Indian Police Service (IPS) cadre posts in the rank of superintendents of police (SPs). The HC raised serious concerns over it terming such appointments as “violations of the IPS Cadre Rules”.
A division bench of Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Sushil Kukreja made this observation while hearing a 2024 Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking police reforms in the state.
The bench made special mention to HPS officers being posted on cadre (IPS) posts specifically as SP, Sirmour and SP, Baddi. The court said that the posts of SP, Sirmour and SP, Baddi are IPS Cadre posts as per the IPS Civil List issued by the state government for the year 2024. It further noted that the Indian Police Service (Cadre) Rules 8 and 9 clearly state that cadre posts are to be filled by cadre officers. The court cited the IPS (Cadre) Rules as well as the judgment of the Division Bench of the Kerala High Court to make it clear that IPS cadre posts must be occupied by IPS officers only. “The state government is, therefore, in violation of these rules,” the High Court said.
The post of Baddi SP came into media glare after the then SP, Ilma Afroz, had to proceed on long leave last year following differences with local Congress MLA over illegal mining. The state government had then appointed HPPS officer ASP Rajesh Dhiman as the Baddi SP. In the similar fashion, another HPPS officer, Nischint Negi, was posted as the Sirmour SP after SP Raman Meena was sent on the central deputation in January.
While making these observations, the bench also discussed various police reforms suggested by a 2018 judgment of the Uttarakhand High Court, which had issued 14 comprehensive directives aimed at improving police welfare and service conditions. The directives included introducing eight- hour duty shifts, granting 45 days’ extra salary to compensate for the strenuous nature of police work, and creating a dedicated welfare corpus.
The bench also suggested the establishment of Special Courts for NDPS Crimes along with an Intelligence Division Overhaul.
Other suggested reforms included the constitution of highway patrol units, under each District SP to handle traffic enforcement, accident response and road safety among others.
Andhra govt to initiate further action against IPS officer PV Sunil Kumar
Suspended senior Andhra IPS officer PV Sunil Kumar (IPS:1993:AP) is headed for a big trouble as the state government is going to initiate disciplinary action against him. The IPS officer faces allegations of making several unauthorised foreign visits during the previous Jagan Mohan Reddy government.
Kumar has been handed out a list of charges for which he has been granted an opportunity to submit a written statement or to appear in person before Chief Secretary K Vijayanand for hearing within 30 days.
Kumar is charged with making several foreign trips while working as the Additional DG (CID) from October 24, 2019 to January 23, 2023 and later as DG, Andhra Pradesh Disaster Response and Fire Services, from March 10, 2023 to June 20, 2024. During these periods, he allegedly made several questionable foreign visits.
According to CS Vijayanand, Kumar allegedly deviated from the actual itinerary for which permission had been granted. Besides, he also made foreign visits without permission. The Chief Secretary has cited examples according to which, Kumar was granted permission to visit Georgia on casual leave from March 1 to 4, 2024, but he allegedly deviated from the approved itinerary and travelled to the UAE. This amounts to the violation of several rules under the All India Service (Conduct) Rule, 1968, the CS said.
Similarly, alleged violations were made during Kumar’s visits to Sweden, USA, UK and UAE.
Kumar allegedly did not even get the permission for some of those visits. Hence, Kumar is allegedly exhibited gross misconduct.
It should be mentioned here that Kumar is not alone to face disciplinary proceedings. The NDA government under Chandrababu Naidu even ordered the arrest of another senior IPS officer, PSR Anjaneyulu, who headed the intelligence wing under the same YSRCP regime.
Sudden departure of Nikunja Dhal from Odisha CMO sparks speculation
The sudden departure of senior IAS officer Nikunja Dhal (IAS:1993:OR) from the Odisha Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) has ignited intense speculation in administrative and political circles. Dhal, who was serving as Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) to the Chief Minister, has moved on central deputation. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued a notification on April 18 confirming his appointment as Union Secretary in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
This unexpected move, coming within just nine months of the new government taking office in Odisha, has raised many eyebrows. Although the immediate reason behind Dhal’s deputation is not known, sources suggest that a faction within the BJP legislature party was reportedly dissatisfied with his style of functioning and had raised concerns with the central leadership.
Attention is now focused on who will replace Dhal in the influential CMO position. The names of two senior IAS officers — Satyabrata Sahu (IAS:1991:OR) and Arabinda Padhee (IAS:1996:OR) — are being considered as potential successors. It is noteworthy that Satyabrata Sahu was recently empanelled for Secretary/Secretary-equivalent posts in the Government of India. Many observers also believe that the Chief Minister’s Private Secretary, Manoj Sahu (IAS:2006:AGMUT), may emerge as the most powerful figure within the CMO setup during this transition.
Regardless of who ultimately takes over, the exit of two senior officers — Nikunja Dhal and Works Secretary Vir Vikram Yadav (IAS:1996:OR) — on April 18 has further strained Odisha’s already stretched administrative machinery. Notably, Yadav was also appointed as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on central deputation the same day.
As per the latest data from the State Legislative Assembly, the number of IAS officers on central deputation rises to 22 while there are two officers on inter-state deputation.
The shortage has left several senior officers currently handling multiple departments. Officers like Sanjay Singh, Deo Ranjan Singh, Vishal Dev, and Satyabrata Sahu are managing multiple portfolios, while numerous positions still remain unfilled.
WB: Murshidabad SP Surya Pratap Yadav among six IPS officers transferred
The West Bengal government on Friday (25.04.2025) carried out a significant reshuffle in the police administration by transferring six IPS officers across the state.
The most notable change was the transfer of Murshidabad Superintendent of Police (SP) Surya Pratap Yadav, who has been posted as Commanding Officer (CO) of the Narayani Battalion in Cooch Behar.
The names of the officers and their postings are as follows;
- Surya Pratap Yadav (IPS:2011:WB), SP, Murshidabad PD, has been transferred and posted as CO, Narayani Battalion, Cooch Behar.
- Ananda Roy (IPS-SPS:2011), SP, Jangipur PD, has been transferred and posted as CO, EFR, 3rd Battalion, Salua.
- Angshuman Saha (IPS-SPS:2012), CO, Narayani Battalion, Cooch Behar, has been transferred and posted as CO, SSF, Barrackpore.
- Ashish Maurya (IPS:2015:WB), SS, IB, West Bengal, has been transferred and posted as SP, Ranaghat PD.
- Kumar Sunny Raj (IPS:2017:WB), SP, Ranaghat PD, has been transferred and posted as SP, Murshidabad PD.
- Shaw Kumar Amit (IPS:2017:WB), DC, TP (South), Kolkata, has been transferred and posted as SP, Jangipur PD.
IAS Amit Kumar appointed PS to Union Minister Jual Oram
IAS officer Amit Kumar (IAS:2010:JH) has been appointed as Private Secretary to Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram for five years.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (25.02.2025), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Mr. Kumar for a period of five years from the date of taking over charge of the post or on co-terminus basis or till he ceases to function as Private Secretary to Minister or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
He will assume the role at Director level.
Abhilaksh Likhi gets addl charge as Secretary, D/o Animal Husbandry and Dairying
Abhilaksh Likhi (IAS:1991:HY), currently serving as Secretary, Department of Fisheries, has been entrusted with the additional charge of Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (April 25, 2025), the competent authority approved the assignment for the period from April 25 to May 6, 2025. This temporary arrangement follows the leave of Ms. Alka Upadhyaya (IAS:1990:MP), the current Secretary of the department.
Seema Jain assigned addl charge as Member Finance, Atomic Energy Commission
Seema Jain (IAS:1991:PB), currently serving as Member Finance, Space Commission, has been given additional charge of the post of Member Finance, Atomic Energy Commission, Department of Atomic Energy.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (25.04.2025), the competent authority approved the assignment following the relinquishment of the post by Pankaj Kumar Mishra (IRS-IT:1989). Jain will hold the additional charge until the appointment of a regular incumbent or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
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