In a recent development, the Tamil Nadu government implemented a minor administrative reshuffle by transferring three IAS officers.
They are;
P Shankar (IAS:2006:TN), Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board, has been transferred and posted as Special Secretary, Agriculture-Farmers Welfare Department.
Dr. S Prabhakar (IAS:2009:TN), Project Director, Tamil Nadu Road Sector Project II, Chennai, has been transferred and his services are placed at the disposal of Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board for appointment as its Managing Director.
P Madhusudhan Reddy (IAS:2011:TN), Director of Survey and Settlement, has been given full additional charge of the post of Officer on Special Duty, Makkaludan Mudhalvar Scheme, Mudhalvarin Mugavari Department.
LK Atheeq (IAS:1991:KN), currently serving as the Additional Chief Secretary, Finance to the Government of Karnataka, has been reassigned as the Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister of Karnataka. A recent order, issued on Monday, announced Atheeq’s transfer, replacing Dr. Rajneesh Goel (IAS:1986:KN) in the role of Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister. Meanwhile, Dr. Rajneesh Goel is set to assume the position of Chief Secretary for the state.
In addition to his new responsibilities, Atheeq will continue to hold concurrent charge as the Additional Chief Secretary of the Finance Department until further notice.
Harmit Singh Pahuja (IAS:2010:MN), currently serving as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), will continue his central deputation tenure as it has been extended for an additional one year. According to an order issued by the DoPT on Saturday (25.11.2023), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal from the Administration Division of DoPT to extend Mr. Pahuja’s deputation tenure. The extension is effective beyond the initial expiration date of 17.11.2023, allowing him to serve until 17.11.2024, or until further orders, whichever transpires earlier.
Abhay Sharma (IRTS:2012), currently serving as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Health and Family Welfare, has been prematurely repatriated to his parent cadre. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued an order on Saturday (25.11.2023), revealing that the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal for Mr. Sharma’s premature repatriation, along with the provision of extended cooling-off.
Prakash Mirani (IRSS:1989), currently serving as the Additional CEO of GeM SPV under the Department of Commerce, will continue his central deputation tenure, according to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Saturday (25.11.2023). The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has granted approval to the Department of Commerce’s proposal for extending Mr. Mirani’s deputation tenure. The extension is effective beyond the initial expiration date of 09.12.2023, allowing him to serve until his superannuation on 31.12.2024, or until further orders, whichever occurs earlier.
Nandan Kumar (CWES), currently serving as the Chairman of the Krishna River Management Board (KRMD) in Hyderabad, will continue to shoulder the additional responsibility as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Polavaram Project Authority, Hyderabad. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued an order on Saturday (25.11.2023), revealing that the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has given its nod to the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation’s proposal for the extension of entrustment of additional charge to Mr. Kumar. This extension is effective for a period of six months starting from 28.11.2023, or until a regular incumbent is appointed, or until further orders, whichever transpires earlier.
A Asholi Chalai (CSS) will continue to serve as Joint Secretary of the National Commission for Women (NCW) as the central deputation tenure has been extended. The Department of Personnel and Training issued an order on Saturday (25.11.2023) announcing the approval by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet to extend Mr. Chalai’s deputation tenure. The extension is granted beyond the initial expiration date of 25.11.2023, allowing him to serve until his superannuation on 28.02.2025, or until further orders, whichever comes earlier.
Shailesh Kumar (ISS:2008) will continue in his role as Director of the Department of Rural Development for an additional two years, as announced in an order by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Saturday (25.11.2023). The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has given its approval for the extension, allowing Mr. Kumar to serve until February 18, 2026, or until further orders, whichever occurs earlier, beyond the initial deputation tenure set to expire on February 18, 2023.
In a significant development, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has given its nod for the extension in the temporary upgradation of various key administrative posts. The decision, aimed at ensuring continuity and efficiency in governance, covers a range of crucial portfolios. The following extensions have been approved:
Chairman, Inland Waterways Authority of India: The post, presently held by Sanjay Bandopadhyay (IAS:1988:MP) has been upgraded from the level of Additional Secretary to that of Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. This upgradation is effective until August 31, 2024.
Joint Secretary to Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change: Tanmay Kumar (IAS:1993:RJ) will continue to hold the position at the upgraded level until December 3, 2024.
Joint Secretary to Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism: Rakesh Kumar Verma (IAS:1993:PB) has received an extension in the upgradation of the post until December 5, 2024.
Joint Secretary to Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal: Nagaraju Maddirala (IAS:1993:TR) will continue in the upgraded role until November 2, 2024.
Joint Secretary to Additional Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare: Roli Singh (IAS:1994:RJ) has been granted an extension until December 26, 2024.
Joint Secretary to Additional Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat: Ashutosh Jindal (IAS:1995:TR) will hold the upgraded position until February 16, 2024.
Joint Secretary to Additional Secretary, Department of Expenditure: Sajjan Singh Yadav (IAS:1995:AGMUT) has received an extension until December 5, 2024.
Joint Secretary to Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs: Ms. R. Jaya (IAS:1995:TN) will continue in the upgraded role until December 5, 2024.
Joint Secretary to Additional Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying: Ms. Varsha Joshi (IAS:1995:AGMUT) has been granted an extension until December 5, 2024.
Joint Secretary to Additional Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs: Ms. D. Thara (IAS:1995:GJ) will hold the upgraded position until December 5, 2024.
The Supreme Court on Friday proposed that the central government submit a list of officials for the position of Delhi’s chief secretary, allowing the state government to make the final selection. The court’s directive stemmed from a petition filed by the Delhi government on November 7, challenging the unilateral decision-making process of the Centre in appointing Delhi’s chief secretary, emphasizing the need for confidence in the elected state government.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, heading the bench, emphasized the importance of a functional government process, stating, “We must foster a degree of confidence in the elected arm of the state.” The Centre committed to providing the names of officials on the following Tuesday when the petition is scheduled for a hearing.
The plea by the Delhi government referenced Rule 7(2) of the Indian Administrative Service (Cadre) Rules, 1954, asserting that appointments to cadre posts in a state cadre should be made by the state government. Additionally, it cited the Supreme Court’s May order, which granted the services department to the Delhi government. The petition argued that the 2023 Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) (Amendment) Act contradicted the court’s decision, reducing the Delhi government to a “mere observer” in the chief secretary’s appointment.
The bench, consisting of Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, proposed a solution, urging the Centre to suggest a panel of the best, senior-most officers. The suggested names could be shared with the Delhi government before the hearing, allowing a decision to be reached in court. The bench emphasized the need for a structured approach, suggesting that the Centre propose a panel from which the Delhi government can make the final choice.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, acknowledged the court’s suggestion, stating that the chief secretary’s appointment process was already underway. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Delhi government, proposed that the Centre recommend a set of five best officers, similar to the practice before the Ordinance.
Senior advocate Harish Salve, representing the LG, cautioned against disclosing names publicly and emphasized the need to respect the officers’ dignity. The bench agreed, highlighting the importance of not engaging in mudslinging against officers and safeguarding their careers.
Singhvi refuted allegations against the officials, emphasizing that they do not heed to him. Regarding a defamatory article about Chief Secretary Kumar, Singhvi clarified that it was unrelated to the Delhi government.
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