In a major move aimed at streamlining administrative functions and optimizing governance, Punjab Government on Monday issued a sweeping order on Monday announcing immediate postings and transfers of 10 IAS officers within the state bureaucracy.
The reshuffle orders, issued by the state Chief Secretary Anurag Verma, include key changes in various departments, with the objective of enhancing efficiency and bringing in fresh perspectives to key roles.
As per the orders, the 1994-batch IAS officer Alok Shekhar will assume the role of Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Financial Commissioner of Rural Development and Panchayats, relieving Tejveer Singh of the additional charge.
1994-batch Dhirendra Kumar Tiwari, available for posting after the state government withdrew his suspension orders, has been appointed as the Additional Chief Secretary of Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Department; relieving Veerendra Kumar Meena of the charge.
Notably, after the controversy over dissolving the panchayats in August 2023, the State Government had ordered the suspension of Tiwari — the then the principal secretary to the Rural Development and Panchayat Department; and Gurpreet Singh Khaira — the then Rural Development and Panchayat Department’s director. However, both of them were reinstated months later.
Khaira, the 2009-batch officer, will now assume the role of the State Transport director replacing Amandeep Kaur.
Among others, Krishan Kumar will take charge as the Principal Secretary, Water Resources, in addition to the charge of Principal Secretary, Governance Reforms and Public Grievances, relieving Tejveer Singh of the additional charge.
Rakhee Gupta Bhandari, currently will now hold the charge of Principal Secretary, Food Processing, relieving Kumar Rahul of the additional charge.
Nilkanth S Avhad, 1999-batch officer available for posting, will assume the role of Principal Secretary, Water Supply and Sanitation, relieving Gurkirat Kirpal Singh of the additional charge. Besides, 2003-batch Ajit Balaji Joshi, also available for posting, has been appointed as Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
Dilraj Singh will continue as Administrative Secretary, Transport, in addition to the Administrative Secretary, Parliamentary Affairs, relieving Rakhee Gupta Bhandari of the charge.
2006-batch officer Amit Dhaka will continue to hold the charge of Administrative Secretary, Planning, and Punjab Development Commission secretary; in addition to the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Punjab, Director, and the Administrative Secretary, Tourism and Cultural Affairs, relieving Rakhee Gupta Bhandari of the additional charge.
Available for posting, the services of 2008-batch officer Neelima have been placed at the disposal of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare for posting as Commissioner, Agriculture.
1997-batch officer Veerendra Kumar Meena will continue working as the Principal Secretary, Printing and Stationery; while the 2015-batch officer Amandeep Kaur has been directed to report to the Secretary, Personnel, with the posting orders to be issued at a later date.
The newly-appointed officers have been instructed to assume their new roles promptly.
