In a minor reshuffle on Wednesday, the Kerala State government announced several new postings for IAS officers, along with the creation of a new ex-cadre post. One of the key changes includes the creation of an ex-cadre post for the Director of the Agriculture Development and Farmers Welfare Department, which will be equivalent in status and responsibility to that of a Joint Secretary to the government. Sriram V., currently the Joint Secretary and Officer on Special Duty in the Finance (Resources) Department, has been transferred to this newly created role. In addition, he will continue to hold the additional charge of Managing Director of the Kerala Financial Corporation until the end of the current financial year.
In other significant moves:
- Adeela Abdulla, the current Director of Agriculture Development and Farmers Welfare Department, has been transferred as Special Secretary, Social Justice. Abdulla will also take on the full additional charge of Women and Child Development.
- Abdul Nasar B., Director of Fisheries, will now serve as Special Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs, while also holding full additional charges for the posts of Special Secretary, Minority Welfare, and Director of Fisheries.
- P.B. Nooh, Chairman and Managing Director of the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco), has been reassigned as Special Secretary, Transport. Nooh will additionally take on the full charge of Chairman and Managing Director of Kerala Transport Development Finance Corporation.
- Shibu A., Additional Secretary in the Public Works Department, will hold the full additional charge of Managing Director, Kerala State Pottery Manufacturing Marketing and Welfare Development Corporation.
- Sudhir K., Director of Collegiate Education, will assume the full additional charge of the post of Director, Minority Welfare Department.
- Aswathy Srinivas, District Development Commissioner for Ernakulam, has been appointed as Chairperson and Managing Director of Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation. Srinivas’s service has been placed at the disposal of the Food and Civil Supplies Department for this role.
The post of Chairperson and Managing Director, Supplyco has been elevated to the rank of Deputy Secretary to the government, with the appointee also holding additional charges for several positions, including District Development Commissioner, Ernakulam, Managing Director of Vyttila Mobility Hub Society, and Managing Director of Kerala State Construction Corporation.
Additionally, Mohammed Shafiq, Deputy Secretary and Director of Programme Implementation, Evaluation, and Monitoring, will take on the full additional charge of Commissioner of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department. He will also be relieved of his duties as Managing Director of the Kerala Transport Development Finance Corporation.
As part of the reshuffle, Puneet Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, and several other senior officers, including Sharmila Mary Joseph, Mohammed Hanish APM, and K. Vasuki, have been relieved of their additional charges. The new Special Secretaries will take independent charge of their respective departments, as per the latest government order.
This reshuffle is part of ongoing efforts to ensure effective governance and streamline the responsibilities of key departments in Kerala’s administration.
