Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday carried out a major bureaucratic reshuffle, transferring several senior IAS officers and assigning them to key departments across the state administration. Among those shifted are senior officers J. Radhakrishnan (IAS:1992:TN), Supriya Sahu (IAS:1991:TN), P. Umanath (IAS:1995:TN), Dheeraj Kumar (IAS:1993:TN), V. Arun Roy (IAS:1992:TN) and several others.
The reshuffle affects crucial departments including power, environment, industries, transport, higher education, information technology, MSME, prohibition and excise, social welfare, and disaster management.
J. Radhakrishnan Moves to Anna Administrative Staff College
One of the most significant changes is the transfer of J. Radhakrishnan, who was serving as Additional Chief Secretary and Chairman & Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation (TNPDCL).
He has now been appointed Director of the Anna Administrative Staff College and will additionally serve as Director General of Training, replacing C. Samayamoorthy, who was holding the charge additionally.
His position at the power utility will now be taken over by V. Arun Roy, who has been serving as Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education.
Apart from heading the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation, Arun Roy will also serve as Chairman of:
- Tamil Nadu Power Generation Corporation (TNPGCL)
- Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation (TANTRANSCO)
- Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation
Supriya Sahu Shifted from Environment Department
Senior IAS officer Supriya Sahu, who headed the Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department as Additional Chief Secretary, has been appointed Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner of the Entrepreneurship Development and Innovation Institute (EDII).
She replaces Dheeraj Kumar, who has now been transferred as Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education Department.
Meanwhile, Kakarla Usha, who was serving as Additional Chief Secretary, Public and Rehabilitation, has been entrusted with the Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department.
Major Changes in Industries, IT and MSME
The government has also made significant changes in the industries and technology sectors.
Pradeep Yadav, Additional Chief Secretary, Information Technology and Digital Services, has been shifted as Additional Chief Secretary, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
Replacing him, Atul Anand, who was handling MSME, has been posted as Additional Chief Secretary, Information Technology and Digital Services.
Meanwhile, P. Umanath, who was Chairman and Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, has been appointed Industries Commissioner and Director of Industries and Commerce, replacing Nirmal Raj.
Nirmal Raj has now been transferred as Secretary, Transport Department, replacing M. Vallalar, who has been appointed Commissioner of Labour.
Transport, Disaster Management and Public Administration Reshuffle
Another important transfer involves Sigy Thomas Vaidhyan, who was serving as Principal Secretary and Commissioner, Disaster Management.
He has now been posted as Principal Secretary and Commissioner, Transport and Road Safety, replacing D. Baskara Pandian, who has been transferred as Director of Museums.
In another change, E. Sundaravalli, previously Special Secretary, Public and Rehabilitation, has been promoted as Secretary, Public and Rehabilitation, replacing Kakarla Usha.
Changes in Prohibition, Social Welfare and Culture
The reshuffle also includes several postings in social welfare and administrative departments.
R. Gajalakshmi, Commissioner of Land Administration, has been appointed Commissioner, Prohibition and Excise, replacing Pooja Kulkarni, who has been posted as Chief Executive Officer, Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Development Board (TNIDB).
Mageswari Ravikumar, Director of Social Welfare, has been transferred as Director of Art and Culture, while R. Brindha Devi moves in the opposite direction to become Director of Social Welfare.
Other Important Transfers
The government has also announced the following appointments:
- D. Rathna has been appointed Additional Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE), Chennai.
- Waghe Sanket Balwant, who was serving as Additional Collector (Development) and Project Officer, DRDA, Coimbatore, has been appointed Executive Director of the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO).
Administrative Rejig Across Key Departments
The latest reshuffle is among the most significant administrative exercises undertaken by the Tamil Nadu government this year. With experienced officers being assigned to departments such as power, industries, higher education, transport, MSME, IT, environment and public administration, the government appears to be realigning its senior bureaucracy to strengthen governance and improve administrative efficiency across multiple sectors.
