The Gujarat government on Tuesday executed a significant administrative reshuffle, issuing transfer orders for 26 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers. This large-scale move involves key appointments across several crucial departments, including the Chief Minister's Office, home, finance, and health.
Key Appointments in the Chief Minister's Office and Home Department
Sanjeev Kumar, a 1998-batch officer who was serving as Principal Secretary for Environment and Forests, has been appointed as the Principal Secretary in the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). He will also take on the additional responsibility of Principal Secretary for the Home department. These posts were previously held by Manoj Kumar Das, who assumed the role of the state's Chief Secretary on October 31.
Further strengthening the CMO, Vikrant Pandey (2005 batch) has been redesignated from Secretary to Additional Principal Secretary within the same office. Pandey will also take additional charge as Secretary for Information and Broadcasting, relieving Avantika Singh Aulakh (2003 batch) of this duty.
Major Reshuffles Across Key Departments
The transfer orders have led to significant changes in several important portfolios. Anju Sharma (1991 batch), formerly ACS for Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Cooperation, moves to the General Administration Department (GAD). Dhananjay Dwivedi (1998 batch), relieved from GAD, is now the Principal Secretary for Panchayats, Rural Housing and Rural Development, moving from Health and Family Welfare.
In the health sector, Rajeev Topno (1996 batch) has been appointed as Principal Secretary for Health and Family Welfare. Sandhya Bhullar (2003 batch), upon repatriation, takes over as Commissioner of Health (Urban).
The finance department sees new leadership with Sandeep Kumar (2002 batch) appointed as Secretary for Finance (Economic Affairs). Jenu Devan (2006 batch) becomes Secretary for Finance (Expenditure), while continuing as MD of GUVNL. Arti Kanwar (2001 batch) moves from Finance Secretary to become the Chief Commissioner of State Tax.
Other Notable Transfers and Appointments
The reshuffle also impacted departments like education, energy, and tribal development. Mukesh Kumar (1996 batch) shifts from Primary and Secondary Education to become PS for Higher and Technical Education. Milind Torawane (2000 batch) moves from Rural Development to fill the vacant PS post for Primary and Secondary Education.
Ashwani Kumar (1997 batch) is now the Principal Secretary for Energy and Petrochemicals, replacing S.J. Haider who retires on December 31. Avantika Singh Aulakh has been appointed as the Managing Director of GSPC.
Other important changes include: Mohammad Shahid (1998 batch) moving to Tribal Development from Social Justice, R.C. Meena (1997 batch) taking charge of Agriculture, and Harshad Patel (2005 batch) becoming Secretary for Social Justice and Empowerment.
This comprehensive administrative restructuring is aimed at bringing fresh leadership and efficiency to the state's governance machinery ahead of key policy implementations.
