The Odisha government on Friday (24.03.2023) appointed senior IAS officer Nikunja Bihari Dhal (IAS:1993:OR) as the new Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the state. According to a notification issued by the General Administration and Public Grievance department,” Nikunja Bihari Dhal while functioning as the Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha shall not hold any additional charge whatsoever under the Government of Odisha except that he should be designated Principal Secretary to the Government in charge of Election Department in the State Secretariat.”
Dhal will replace Sushil Kumar Lohani (IAS:1995:OR). Notably, Dhal was Additional Chief Secretary, Energy Department and Special Relief Commissioner (SRC). He was appointed as SRC replacing Pradeep Jena (IAS:1989:OR) in February this year.
Lohani has been posted as the Principal Secretary, Panchayati Raj Department. He will also hold the additional charge of Principal Secretary of the Excise Department.
Satyabrata Sahu (IAS:1991:OR), Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue & Disaster Management Department Secretary, has been appointed as the Special Relief Commissioner. Similarly, I& PR Department Principal Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh (IAS:1997:OR) has been given the additional charge of Principal Secretary to the Energy Department.
Likewise, Gyanaranjan Das (IAS:2007:OR), Executive Director of Odisha State Disaster Management Authority, has been appointed as the Managing Director of Odisha State Disaster Management Authority.
