Lucknow: In a major administrative overhaul, the Uttar Pradesh Government led by Yogi Adityanath late Sunday night transferred 38 IAS officers, including the District Magistrates (DMs) of eight key districts – Deoria, Jaunpur, Mau, Maharajganj, Firozabad, Moradabad, Sambhal, and Pratapgarh.
The reshuffle also saw several senior-level postings across departments, development authorities, and municipal bodies.
Rinkoo Singh Rahee Gets Posting After Controversy
Among the notable developments, Rinkoo Singh Rahee, a 2021-batch IAS officer, has been appointed as Joint Magistrate, Jalaun.
Rinkoo Singh Rahee had earlier made headlines after resigning in March, alleging that he had been denied postings and responsibilities for a prolonged period. He later withdrew his resignation on April 27 and has now been assigned a field posting.
Previously, he had been attached to the UP Revenue Board after a viral incident in Shahjahanpur, where he was seen performing uthak-baithak during a protest by lawyers while serving as SDM in Puwayan tehsil.
New District Magistrates Appointed Across 8 Districts
The government has appointed new DMs in several districts:
- Madhusudan Hulgi – DM, Deoria
- Samuel Paul N. – DM, Jaunpur
- Anand Vardhan – DM, Mau
- Gaurav Singh Sogarwal – DM, Maharajganj
- Santosh Kumar Sharma – DM, Firozabad
- Rajendra Pensia – DM, Moradabad
- Ankit Khandelwal – DM, Sambhal
- Abhishek Pandey – DM, Pratapgarh
These appointments are part of a broader effort to streamline district-level administration.
Key Transfers and Senior-Level Postings
- Praful Kumar Sharma appointed Chief Development Officer (CDO), Lucknow
- Anuj Singh made Special Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office
- Shiv Sahay Awasthi appointed CEO, UP State Rural Road Development Authority
- Abhinav Gopal posted Vice-Chairman, Gorakhpur Development Authority
- Ajay Jain appointed Municipal Commissioner, Gorakhpur
- Alka Verma made Special Secretary (Finance) and Registrar, Firms, Chits and Societies
Additional key postings include:
- Nidhi Bansal – Director (Administration), Medical and Health Services
- Dinesh Chandra – Special Secretary, PWD
- Praveen Mishra – Special Secretary, Social Welfare & Secretary, UP SC-ST Commission
- Divya Mittal – Special Secretary, Revenue Department
- Chandra Shekhar – Special Secretary, Irrigation & Water Resources
- Nehal Jain – Managing Director, KESCO
- Sameer – Special Secretary, IT & Electronics
- C. Indumati – Director, Women Welfare
- Vandana Verma – Special Secretary, Sugar Industries
More Administrative Changes Across Departments
- Santosh Kumar Vishya – Municipal Commissioner, Agra
- Rajendra Singh & Prem Prakash Singh – Members (Judicial), Revenue Board
- Ankur Kaushik – Vice-Chairman, Kanpur Development Authority
- Avnish Saxena – Special Secretary, Appointment & Personnel
- Harikesh Chaurasiya – Secretary, UP Subordinate Services Selection Commission
- Madan Singh Gabriyal – Special Secretary, AYUSH
- Sanya Chabbra – Additional Commissioner, State Tax, Kanpur
Further,
- Alok Prasad – CDO, Ghazipur
- Kumar Saurabh – CDO, Ghaziabad
- Dayanand Prasad – CDO, Gonda
- Zuher Bin Sagir – Special Secretary, NRI Department
Action Against Officers and Administrative Reasons
IAS officer Ramesh Ranjan, who was serving as DM of Firozabad, has been removed and transferred to the Revenue Board. His transfer follows allegations by former Tehsildar Rakhi Sharma, who accused him of accepting expensive gifts, including an iPhone and iWatch, and harassment.
Similarly, Divya Mittal, a 2013-batch IAS officer and former DM of Deoria, has been shifted to the Revenue Department as Special Secretary amid reported opposition from local public representatives.
Spotlight on Key Officers
Rajendra Pensia’s Move to Moradabad
Rajendra Pensia, previously DM of Sambhal, has been appointed DM of Moradabad. During his tenure, he led drives against encroachments and identified key pilgrimage sites, earning administrative recognition.
Ankit Khandelwal Appointed Sambhal DM
Ankit Khandelwal, known for his strict administrative style, has been appointed DM of Sambhal. As Municipal Commissioner of Agra, he had recently halted payments worth ₹16 crore in the Water Works Department pending investigation, signalling a strong anti-corruption stance.
Transfer of Jaunpur DM After Tribunal Order
Former Jaunpur DM Dr. Dinesh Chandra has been shifted to the Social Welfare Department. His transfer comes after a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal flagged delays in action in a road accident case and ordered withholding of part of his salary.
Administrative Reset Ahead of Key Governance Priorities
The large-scale reshuffle signals a strategic administrative reset by the Uttar Pradesh government aimed at improving governance, strengthening district administration, and ensuring accountability across departments.
