Hyderabad: After the Election Commission of India (ECI) cracked a whip on several officials and ordered their transfer, the authorities on Friday, October 13, appointed new administrators, secretaries, commissioners of police (CPs) and superintendents of police (SPs) in several districts of Telangana.
This comes after the ECI ordered transfer of several IAS and IPS officers, including nine district collectors, the commissioners of police in Hyderabad, Warangal, and Nizamabad, on October 11, ahead of the upcoming Telangana Assembly elections.
The ECI’s decision to transfer the officers was reportedly due to their “partisan attitude, laxity and unsatisfactory performance.” The ECI had also directed the authorities to hand over the posts of the shunted officers to next-in-line officers.
Police commissioners
In an order by General Administration Department under the authority of the Telangana governor, issued on Friday, new police commissioners for Warangal and Nizamabad were appointed . Amber Kishore Jha has been appointed as Warangal CP, and Kalmeshwar Shingenavar will take over as Nizamabad CP. Sandeep Shandilya took over as Hyderabad CP.
Superintendents of police
Moreover, the following officers have been posted as SPs in the districts: Kare Kiran (SP Bhupalpalli), Vaibhav Garkwad (SP Nagarkurnool), Sindhu Sharma (SP Kamareddy), Rahul Hegde (SP Suryapet), Chennuri Rupesh (SP Sangareddy), Sunpreet Singh (SP Jagityal), Rithi Raj (SP Jogulamba Gadwal), Patti Sangram Singh (SP Mahbubabad), Yogesh Gautam (SP Narayanpet), and Harshavardhan (SP Mahbubnagar).
Secretaries to govt
The ECI had also directed Telangana chief secretary A Santhi Kumari to divest the portfolios of the principal secretary of excise, commercial taxes, and endowments she was holding, and appoint principal secretary-rank officers to these portfolios with immediate effect.
Subsequently, a separate order was issued notifying transfer and postings of various IAS officials.
A Vani Prasad (IAS 1995), director general of EPTRI was transferred and posted as principal secretary of transport department. Sunil Sharma, (IAS 1990), special chief secretary of energy department was transfered and posting as special chief secretary of excise, commercial taxes & endowments.
Dr. Jyoti Buddha Prakash, (IAS 2002), secretary handlooms, textiles & handicrafts, industries & commerce department has been transfer and posted as commissioner, prohibition & excise. Dr. Christina Z Chongthu, (IAS 2001), secretary to government & commissioner tribal welfare department has been transfered and posting as commissioner commercial taxes.
District magistrates
Bharati Hollikeri (IAS 2010), special secretary & commissioner, WCD & SC department is transfered and posting as collector & district magistrate of Rangareddy. Gowtham Potru, (IAS 2015), CEO Society of Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) is transfered and posted as collector & district magistrate of Medchal-Malkajgiri. Zendage Hanumant Kondiba (IAS 2016), special commissioner, agriculture has been transfered and posting as collector & district magistrate of Yadadri-Bhongir. Ashish Sangwan, (IAS 2016), special official CCLA is recommended for transfer and posting as collector & district magistrate of Nirmal.
The ECI’s decision to recommend the transfer of these IAS officers is seen as a move to ensure free and fair polls. The Telangana Assembly elections are scheduled to be held on November 30, 2023.
