Chandigarh: The Haryana government has issued transfer orders for six Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, reshuffling key administrative positions across the state with immediate effect, according to an official notification released on Monday. The move comes amid criticism of civic governance in Gurugram and significant developments in policy targeting senior artists’ welfare.
Key Administrative Changes
Amneet P Kumar has been given additional charge as Commissioner and Secretary of the Civil Aviation Department, Haryana. She currently holds the same rank in the Departments of Future, Fisheries, and Archives. She takes over from Shyamal Misra, who has been relieved of the aviation portfolio.
Ashok Kumar Garg, previously District Municipal Commissioner of Gurugram, has been appointed Commissioner of Hisar Division, relieving A Sreenivas of the charge. His transfer follows intense public scrutiny of the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) over civic issues.
Dhirendra Khadgata, formerly Deputy Commissioner of Rohtak, is now the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad (MCF). He also retains his charge as Special Secretary in the Environment, Forests & Wildlife Department. He replaces A Mona Sreenivas.
Dharmender Singh has been posted as the new Deputy Commissioner of Rohtak, replacing Khadgata. He also takes on the role of Special Secretary in the Cooperation Department.
Pradeep Dahiya, a 2013-batch IAS officer, has been appointed as the District Municipal Commissioner of Gurugram, taking over from Ashok Kumar Garg. Dahiya previously served as Deputy Commissioner of Jhajjar and held various administrative roles, including CEO of the District Rural Development Agency and Secretary of the Regional Transport Authority.
Swapnil Ravindra Patil replaces Dahiya as Deputy Commissioner of Jhajjar.
The transfer orders were issued by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi on behalf of the Governor of Haryana.
MCG in Spotlight Over Civic Woes
Ashok Kumar Garg’s transfer comes amid growing discontent over the MCG’s handling of urban issues. Just days before the reshuffle, Industries and Commerce Minister Rao Narbir Singh conducted field inspections of flood-prone areas in Gurugram following heavy waterlogging. He directed the MCG and GMDA to appoint dedicated officers for each vulnerable site to improve crisis response.
The MCG also faced backlash for appointing Tilak Raj Malhotra, spouse of Mayor Raj Rani Malhotra, as an adviser to the mayor—a move that drew sharp criticism before being revoked by Garg himself.
New Artist Welfare Scheme Launched
In a separate Cabinet decision chaired by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, the state government has approved the “Pandit Lakhmi Chand Kalakar Samajik Samman Yojana”, a welfare scheme aimed at supporting senior artists and art scholars.
Eligible artists who have significantly contributed to the field of art during their lifetime—but are now unable to work due to age—will receive a monthly honorarium of ₹10,000. The initiative is aimed at enhancing their socio-economic status and acknowledging their lifelong contributions to Haryana’s cultural heritage.
