Rajasthan Government Executes Major Administrative Reshuffle, Transfers 65 IAS Officers
The state government of Rajasthan implemented a substantial administrative reshuffle on Wednesday, transferring a total of 65 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers. This extensive bureaucratic overhaul includes the appointment of 25 new district collectors across various regions. Notably, this marks the second major administrative reshuffle conducted by the government within a remarkably short span of just 12 days, indicating a period of significant bureaucratic realignment.
Key Appointments and Transfers in the Reshuffle
In one of the most prominent changes, Sandesh Nayak, who previously served as the special secretary to the Chief Minister, has been appointed as the new district collector of Jaipur. He replaces Jitendra Kumar Soni, who has been reassigned to the Chief Minister's Office. Soni will now serve as secretary to the CM, with the additional responsibility of overseeing the Department of Information and Public Relations.
Chinmayee Gopal, formerly the Agriculture and Panchayati Raj commissioner, has been appointed as the collector of Barmer. She takes over from Tina Dabi, who has been transferred to Tonk to assume the role of district collector there.
Other significant transfers include Ashish Modi, who was moved from his position as director of social justice and empowerment to become the new collector of Sikar. Additionally, Nishant Jain, previously the secretary of the Jaipur Development Authority, has been appointed as the collector of Bikaner.
Appointments to the Chief Minister's Office
The reshuffle also involved several appointments to the Chief Minister's Office. Sikar collector Mukul Sharma has been shifted to the role of special secretary to the CM. Furthermore, Deeg collector Utsav Kaushal and finance department joint secretary Amita Sharma have been appointed as joint secretaries to the CM.
In a move involving junior IAS officers, Ria Dabi, Rajat Yadav, and Akshat Kumar Singh have all been posted as officers on special duty to the Chief Minister.
Transfers Linked to Reports of Friction
Some of these transfers are being interpreted as part of the government's response to reports of friction between administrative officers and public representatives. Specifically, Pratapgarh collector Anjali Rajoria and Jaisalmer collector Pratap Singh have been transferred following reports of conflicts with prominent politicians.
Rajoria was reported to have had a clash with Udaipur MP Mannalal Rawat in March. Meanwhile, Mukul Sharma was involved in a dispute with forest and environment minister Sanjay Sharma in December last year. Pratap Singh faced allegations from the RAS Association concerning misconduct and undue pressure tactics on subordinate staff.
Additional Administrative Changes
The reshuffle encompassed several other key administrative adjustments:
- Joga Ram has been given additional charge of the National Health Mission, in addition to his responsibilities in the panchayati raj department.
- Finance secretary (Budget) Rajan Vishal has been transferred to the Jal Jeevan Mission, where he will serve as mission director.
- Kanhaiya Lal Swami has been appointed as the divisional commissioner of Jodhpur.
- RIICO managing director Shivangi Swarnkar has been posted as special secretary in the finance department (Budget).
- Udaipur collector Namit Mehta has been appointed as excise commissioner.
- Suresh Kumar Ola has been named the new RIICO managing director.
This comprehensive reshuffle reflects the Rajasthan government's ongoing efforts to optimize administrative efficiency and address operational challenges within the state's bureaucratic framework.
