Patna: The Bihar government has carried out a major reshuffle of senior bureaucrats, transferring and reassigning 15 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers across key departments.
A notification issued by the general administration department from Patna on Tuesday detailed changes in postings and additional charges.
The reshuffle has also drawn attention to the posting of IAS officer Sanjeev Hans, who has returned to service after a prolonged suspension. Hans, who spent nearly a year in jail following corruption charges investigated by the Enforcement Directorate, has now been appointed as an additional member of the Bihar Revenue Board, according to the notification.
In another key move, Vinay Kumar, who has recently returned from central deputation, has been posted as principal secretary of the urban development and housing department, placing him at the helm of one of the state’s most politically and administratively sensitive portfolios.
Under the reshuffle, N Vijayalakshmi, a 1995-batch IAS officer, has been transferred from the dairy, fisheries and animal resources department to take charge as additional chief secretary of the planning and development department. She will also hold additional responsibilities as secretary of the Bihar State Planning Board and project director of the Bihar Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Society.
Shirshat Kapil Ashok has been appointed officer-in-charge secretary of the dairy, fisheries and animal resources department, filling the vacancy created by Vijayalakshmi’s transfer.
Another senior bureaucrat, K Senthil Kumar, has been posted as principal secretary of the sugarcane industry department. He will also continue to hold additional charge as secretary of the Bihar State Planning Board and project director of the disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction society.
Pankaj Kumar has been appointed principal secretary of the rural development department, while retaining his additional role as inquiry commissioner in the general administration department.
