Gujarat govt effects major IAS reshuffle, 26 officers transferred

The Gujarat government on Monday issued a major bureaucratic reshuffle, effecting transfers and fresh appointments of 26 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers across key departments, including the Chief Minister’s Office, Home, Education, Agriculture, Energy, Finance, Health, and Tribal Development.

As per the notification issued by the General Administration Department, Sanjeev Kumar, IAS (1998 batch), who was serving as Principal Secretary, Forests and Environment Department, has been transferred and appointed Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. He will also hold additional charge of the Home Department until further orders, relieving M.K. Das, IAS of that responsibility.

The designation of Dr. Vikrant Pandey, IAS (2005) has been upgraded from Secretary to the Chief Minister to Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. He has also been given additional charge of the Information and Broadcasting Department, relieving Avantika Singh Aulakh, IAS.

On repatriation to the state, Ajay Kumar, IAS (2006) has been appointed Secretary to the Chief Minister. He will additionally serve as Vice Chairman and CEO of the Gujarat Maritime Board, replacing Rajkumar Beniwal, IAS.

Ramesh Chand Meena, IAS (1997) has been shifted from Ports and Transport to become Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Co-operation Department, replacing Dr. Anju Sharma, IAS.

Meanwhile, Arunkumar M. Solanki, IAS (1990) has been appointed Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture (Co-operation, Animal Husbandry, Cow Breeding and Fisheries), while continuing as Managing Director, Gujarat State Warehousing Corporation.

In the Education Department, Mukesh Kumar, IAS (1996) has been moved to exclusively head Higher and Technical Education, while Milind Shivaram Torawane, IAS (2000) has taken charge as Principal Secretary, Primary and Secondary Education.

Ashwani Kumar, IAS (1997) has been appointed Principal Secretary, Energy and Petrochemicals Department, replacing S.J. Haider, IAS, who retires on December 31.

Avantika Singh Aulakh, IAS (2003) has been transferred to the Energy and Petrochemicals Department for appointment as Managing Director of GSPC. She will also hold additional charge of GSPC LNG Ltd. and Gujarat Gas Ltd.

In the Finance Department, Sandeep Kumar, IAS (2002) has been appointed Secretary (Economic Affairs), while Jenu Devan, IAS (2006) takes over as Secretary (Expenditure) and continues as MD, Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd.

Rajesh Manjhu, IAS (2004) has been given additional charge of Superintendent of Stamps and Inspector General of Registration.

Arti Kanwar, IAS (2001) has been appointed Chief Commissioner of State Tax, Ahmedabad, replacing Rajeev Topno, IAS, who has been posted as Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department.

Vinod Ramachandra Rao, IAS (2000) has been transferred to Forests and Environment, while Anju Sharma, IAS (1991) has been appointed Additional Chief Secretary, General Administration Department (Personnel).

Hareet Shukla, IAS (1999) has been given additional charge of the Ports and Transport Department, while continuing as Chief Electoral Officer.

On repatriation, Sandhya Bhullar, IAS (2003) has been appointed Commissioner of Health (Urban), and Lochan Sehra, IAS (2002) has been posted as Secretary, Labour, Skill Development and Employment Department.

Rajender Kumar, IAS (2004) has been appointed Commissioner of Transport, while Kuldeep Arya, IAS (2009) takes over as Secretary, Industries and Mines Department, with additional charge of Dholera and Mandal-Bechraji SIR projects.

Rajkumar Beniwal, IAS (2004) has been appointed Managing Director, GNFC Ltd., while Dhananjay Dwivedi, IAS (1998) has been posted as Principal Secretary, Panchayats, Rural Housing and Rural Development Department, along with additional charge of Commissioner of Rural Development.

Harshadkumar Ratilal Patel, IAS (2005) has been transferred as Secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment Department, while Rahul Babulal Gupta, IAS (2004) has been appointed Secretary, Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities Department, retaining additional charge of the Climate Change Department.

Finally, Mohammad Shahid, IAS (1998) has been appointed Principal Secretary, Tribal Development Department, relieving Shahmeena Husain, IAS of additional charge.

The transfers and postings take effect immediately, the notification said.