In a major reshuffle of bureaucrats, the Telangana government on April 27, Sunday, announced that K Ramakrishna Rao will be the new Chief Secretary of the state. Industries and Information Technology Special Chief Secretary Jayesh Ranjan will now be CEO of Industry and Investment cell in the Chief Minister’s Office as well as of Smart Proactive Efficient and Effective Delivery (SPEED).
Another senior IAS officer Smita Sabharwal, who was recently summoned by the police for posting an AI-generated image on social media related to tree-felling in Kancha Gachibowli amid outrage against the state government, is also among the 20 officers transferred by the Telangana government.
Smita, who was Special Chief Secretary, Youth Advancement, Tourism and Culture (YAT&C) and Director, Archaeology, has been transferred and posted as Member Secretary, Telangana Finance Commission, a post she was holding before her transfer to YAT&C in November 2024.
Jayesh Ranjan has been given additional charge of the post of Special Chief Secretary, YAT&C Department and Director, Archaeology, in place of Smita.
As the secretary to the Chief Minister, Smita was seen as a powerful officer under the previous BRS government. After the Congress came to power, she was transferred out of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) and posted as Member Secretary, Telangana Finance Commission.
Smita, who had appeared before Cyberabad police a week ago, had questioned the "selective targeting". The 2001-batch IAS officer had asked if the same action was initiated against 2,000 individuals who reshared the same post.
An IAS officer of the 1991 batch, the new Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao was earlier Special Chief Secretary, Finance. He succeeds A Santhi Kumari, who will be retiring from service on attaining the age of superannuation on April 30.
Secretary to Government (Political) M Raghunandan Rao, on April 27, issued the order appointing Ramakrishna Rao as the new Chief Secretary.
The government, through a separate order, also placed Ramakrishna Rao in full additional charge of the post of Special Chief Secretary, Finance Department, until further orders.
Ramakrishna Rao is the first Chief Secretary to be appointed by the Congress government since assuming office in November 2023.
Known for fiscal expertise, Ramakrishna Rao was the front-runner for the coveted post. The government is understood to have picked him in view of the financial constraints faced by the state. Ramakrishna Rao, however, has only a few months left in the service. He is set to retire in August.
In January 2023, Santhi Kumari was appointed as Chief Secretary after the incumbent Somesh Kumar was sent to Andhra Pradesh following the Telangana High Court order. An IAS officer of the 1989 batch, she was the first woman Chief Secretary of Telangana.
Santhi Kumari was holding the post of Special Chief Secretary, Forest, prior to her appointment as Chief Secretary. Though there were speculations that Santhi Kumar might be given an extension, the Revanth Reddy government decided not to extend her service.
Recently, the government issued an order to all departments to terminate the services of all officers, who are serving on extension, unless necessary.
Sanjay Kumar, Special Chief Secretary, Labour, Employment, Training & Factories (LET&F) Department is transferred and posted as Special Chief Secretary, Industries & Commerce Department and ITE&C and Sports Department.
Dr Shashank Goel, Director General, Dr MCR HRD Institute, has been transferred and posted as Vice Chairman, Centre for Good Governance. He is also placed in full additional charge of the post of Director General, EPTRI, relieving Ahmad Nadeem from full additional charge.
M Dana Kishore, previously Principal Secretary of the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Department, has been posted as Principal Secretary of the Labour, Employment, Training & Factories Department. He has also been placed in full additional charge of Commissioner, Labour; Director, Insurance Medical Services; and Director, Employment & Training.
Dana Kishore will continue in full additional charge of the post of Principal Secretary to the Governor.
Ilambarithi K, who was the Commissioner of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), has been posted as Secretary, Metropolitan Area & Urban Development Department, which covers the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) limits.
RV Karnan, Director of Health and Family Welfare, will take over as the new Commissioner of the GHMC.
TK Sreedevi, Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration, has been posted as Secretary in the Municipal Administration Department for areas outside HMDA limits. She will also continue to hold full additional charge as Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration for municipalities and corporations outside the Outer Ring Road (ORR) area.
EV Narsimha Reddy, Director, School Education, has been posted as Additional CEO, Industry & Investment Cell & SPEED. He is also placed in full additional charge of the post of Managing Director, Musi River Development Corporation Ltd (MRDCL), relieving Dana Kishore.
(With IANS inputs)