Gandhinagar: The Gujarat government on Wednesday announced a new round of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) transfers, appointing new district collectors in Jamnagar, Surendranagar, and Gandhinagar as part of an ongoing administrative reshuffle.
According to the official notification, these appointments aim to strengthen district administration and ensure smooth governance across key regions of the state.
New Collector Appointments
- Jamnagar: P.B. Pandya, currently serving as District Development Officer in Amreli, has been appointed Collector of Jamnagar. He will assume charge on March 31, succeeding K.B. Thakkar, who is retiring the same day.
- Surendranagar: G.H. Solanki, the Municipal Commissioner of Nadiad, has been posted as Collector of Surendranagar. He replaces K.S. Yagnik, who had been holding additional charge following the removal of the previous collector amid a corruption probe.
- Gandhinagar: Ravindra Khatale, currently Municipal Commissioner of Mehsana, has been appointed Collector of Gandhinagar. He takes over from J.N. Vaghela, who was also holding the post in an additional charge capacity.
Background: Surendranagar Collectorate Under Scrutiny
The Surendranagar Collectorate has been under close examination in recent months. Former collector Rajendra Patel was removed following raids by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and a case registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
Patel was later arrested in January 2026 in connection with an alleged bribery-linked money laundering case involving land-use change permissions. A court recently denied him bail, citing prima facie evidence in the case.
Investigators allege a systematic collection of illegal gratification for clearing applications, pointing to a wider pattern of corruption within the Surendranagar collector’s office.
Context: Earlier Bureaucratic Reshuffles
This latest transfer is part of a broader administrative restructuring in Gujarat.
- June 2025: 13 IAS officers were transferred across various departments and districts.
- Later in 2025: Around 26 officers were reshuffled, alongside additional changes linked to vacancies, promotions, and disciplinary actions.
These periodic reshuffles are intended to maintain administrative efficiency and ensure accountability across the state’s bureaucracy.
