Hyderabad: Senior IAS officer Smita Sabharwal, recently summoned by police over a social media post linked to a Hyderabad land dispute, is among 20 officers transferred by the Telangana government on Sunday. Sabharwal had reshared an AI-generated, Ghibli-style image highlighting alleged tree-cutting on 400 acres near Hyderabad Central University. She was questioned by Cyberabad police last week and later criticised the “selective targeting,” questioning why similar action wasn’t taken against the nearly 2,000 others who reshared the same post.
Sabharwal, who was serving as Special Chief Secretary for Youth Advancement, Tourism & Culture (YAT&C) and Director of Archaeology, has now been transferred back as Member Secretary of the Telangana Finance Commission — a post she previously held before her transfer to YAT&C in November 2024. Under the earlier BRS government, she served as Secretary to the Chief Minister and was regarded as a key figure in the administration. Following the Congress party’s rise to power, she had been moved out of the Chief Minister’s Office.
Major IAS Reshuffle:
As part of a wider bureaucratic reshuffle, senior IAS officer K. Ramakrishna Rao has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary of Telangana. A 1991-batch officer currently serving as Special Chief Secretary, Finance, Rao will succeed A. Santhi Kumari, who is set to retire on April 30. The government has issued an official order confirming his appointment.
Other Key Transfers:
-
Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary, ITE&C and Sports Department, has been appointed as Special Chief Secretary and CEO of the Industry & Investment Cell in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) and SPEED (Smart Proactive Efficient and Effective Delivery). He will also hold additional charge as Special Chief Secretary, Youth Advancement, Tourism & Culture (YAT&C) and Director of Archaeology.
-
Sanjay Kumar, Special Chief Secretary, Labour, Employment, Training & Factories (LET&F), has been transferred as Special Chief Secretary for Industries & Commerce, and will additionally oversee the ITE&C and Sports Department.
-
Dr. Shashank Goel, Director General of Dr. MCR HRD Institute, has been appointed Vice Chairman of the Centre for Good Governance and will concurrently serve as Director General of EPTRI (Environment Protection Training and Research Institute).
-
M. Dana Kishore, formerly Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD), has been appointed Principal Secretary of Labour, Employment, Training & Factories. He will also hold full additional charges as Commissioner, Labour; Director, Insurance Medical Services; and Director, Employment & Training. Additionally, he continues as Principal Secretary to the Governor.
-
Ilambarithi K., Commissioner of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), has been transferred as Secretary, Metropolitan Area and Urban Development Department, covering HMDA (Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority) limits.
-
RV Karnan, Director of Health and Family Welfare, will take over as the new Commissioner of GHMC.
-
TK Sreedevi, Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration, has been posted as Secretary, Municipal Administration Department for areas outside HMDA limits. She will continue to hold additional charge of her previous post for areas beyond the Outer Ring Road (ORR).
-
EV Narsimha Reddy, Director of School Education, has been appointed Additional CEO of the Industry & Investment Cell and SPEED. He will also take additional charge as Managing Director of Musi River Development Corporation Ltd. (MRDCL), relieving Dana Kishore.
