Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Government has appointed IAS officer R.V. Shajeevana as Director of Public Libraries, assigning her the responsibility as an additional charge, according to reports. She replaces IAS officer S Jayanthi (2006: TN), who had been handling the post alongside her role as Chairperson of the Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB).
The reported administrative change comes amid a controversy over the procurement of books for public libraries across Tamil Nadu, particularly the recently inaugurated Periyar Arivulagam library in Coimbatore.
While the appointment has been confirmed by multiple media reports, the formal government order detailing the new assignment was yet to be released at the time of reporting.
What Does the Administrative Change Mean?
Jayanthi had been holding additional charge as Director of Public Libraries while serving as TRB Chairperson. With Shajeevana’s reported appointment, the responsibility of overseeing the state’s public library directorate is being assigned to another IAS officer.
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Jayanthi will continue in her substantive position at the Teachers Recruitment Board.
The Directorate of Public Libraries has seen several officers handle the director’s responsibilities as an additional charge in recent years. K Elambahavath was among the exceptions, serving as Director from January 2022 until August 2024.
He was succeeded by P Sankar (IAS: 2006: TN), who was subsequently followed by Jayanthi in the additional-charge arrangement.
Appointment Comes Amid Periyar Arivulagam Book Procurement Row
The administrative change comes against the backdrop of allegations of irregularities in the procurement of books for the Periyar Arivulagam library and science centre in Coimbatore.
The controversy gained attention after Tamil writer Perumal Murugan raised questions about the authenticity, content and pricing of several books stocked at the facility. He flagged publications that allegedly contained factual inaccuracies, questionable authorship and misleading historical information.
Some of the books were also suspected of containing AI-generated material. The allegations prompted the state government to initiate an inquiry into the procurement process.
School Education Minister A Rajmohan has stated that a complaint was filed with the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) and that the government would examine purchases made not only for the Coimbatore facility but also for other public libraries in the state.
The DMK, however, has disputed the allegations and called for an independent investigation into the matter.
Who Is R.V. Shajeevana?
R.V. Shajeevana is listed as a 2012-batch IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre. She holds a postgraduate degree in Zoology (MSc).
Previous assignments:
- Her career includes serving as District Collector of Theni and Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women.
- Government assignment: Tamil Nadu Government’s IAS posting records listed her as Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation in May 2026.
Her appointment to head the Public Libraries Directorate adds another administrative responsibility to her portfolio.
A Long-Standing Demand for a Full-Time Director
The arrangement of assigning additional charge of the Public Libraries Directorate to serving officers has been a longstanding concern among sections of the library administration.
In 2012, the Madras High Court had directed the state government to appoint a person with a qualification in Library Science as Director of Public Libraries. However, the practice of assigning the responsibility to officers holding other government positions continued.
Librarians working in the directorate have repeatedly sought a dedicated, full-time head, arguing that the additional-charge arrangement has affected the department’s administration.
Shajeevana’s reported appointment comes at a time when the directorate is also facing scrutiny over book procurement and the management of public library collections across Tamil Nadu.
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