Keralam govt transfers 35 IAS officers in major bureaucratic reshuffle

The Keralam government has transferred 35 senior IAS officers in a major bureaucratic reshuffle, bringing significant changes to key departments, including Home, Finance, Health, Power and Local self-government. 

In a key change amid concerns over a looming power crisis and ongoing discussions on new power purchase agreements, Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) chairman and managing director M G Rajamanickam has been posted as Secretary of the Local Self-Government Department. Prasanth N, who was serving as Special Secretary in the Sports and Youth Affairs Department, will replace him as KSEB CMD.

Anupama TV, who was recently moved from the Transport Department to the Local Self-Government Department, has now been posted as Secretary of the Finance (Expenditure) Department. Her transfer comes amid reports of differences between her and the office of the Transport Minister.

Health and Family Welfare Principal Secretary Dr Sharmila Mary Joseph has been moved to the Transport Department. She had reportedly faced differences with Health Minister K Muraleedharan over the pace of file movement, with the minister seeking her replacement. APM Mohammed Hanish, who was Additional Chief Secretary of the Industries Department, will take over as Additional Chief Secretary of Health and Family Welfare.

In another major change, KR Jyothilal, who was Additional Chief Secretary of Finance, has been posted as Additional Chief Secretary of Home and Vigilance. He will also hold additional charge of the Water Resources Department. Minhaj Alam, who held the Home and Vigilance portfolios, will replace Jyothilal as Additional Chief Secretary of Finance. He will also hold charge of the Taxes and Public Procurement Advisory departments, the Rebuild Kerala Initiative and the Kerala Financial Corporation.

Puneet Kumar has been appointed Additional Chief Secretary of the Power Department. He will continue to operate from New Delhi as Resident Commissioner of Kerala House while also taking on additional responsibilities as Officer on Special Duty in the Chief Secretary's office.

Among other appointments, M Beena has been posted as Principal Secretary of the Industries Department, while Veena N Madhavan will take charge as Secretary of the Agriculture Department. Gokul GR has been appointed Special Secretary of the Planning and Economic Affairs Department, and P B Nooh has been posted as Special Secretary of the Labour Department.

Suhas S has been posted as Special Secretary of the Electronics and Information Technology Department, while continuing as managing director of Cochin International Airport Limited. Seeram Sambasiva Rao has been moved to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Department but will continue as Excise Commissioner.

Other key appointments include Jafar Malik as Commissioner of the State GST Department, Haritha V Kumar as Special Secretary of the Social Justice Department, and Anjana M as Special Secretary of the Disaster Management Department. Subhash T V will be appointed managing director of the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Limited, while Afsana Perween will take charge as managing director of the Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (Milma).