Senior IAS officer Smita Sabharwal who recently questioned by the police for reposting an AI-generated Ghibli-style image about tree cutting near Hyderabad Central University, has been transferred along with 19 other officers by the Telangana government.
Ms Sabharwal had appeared before the Cyberabad police last week. She had raised concerns about being “selectively targeted” and asked why similar action was not taken against the 2,000 other people who shared the same post.
She was serving as the Special Chief Secretary for Youth Advancement, Tourism, and Culture (YAT&C) and Director of Archaeology. Now, she has been moved back to her previous post as Member Secretary of the Telangana Finance Commission- a role she had held before November 2024.
Earlier, under the previous BRS government, Ms Sabharwal was a powerful officer in the Chief Minister’s Office. However, after Congress came to power, she was removed from that position and assigned to the Finance Commission.
Jayesh Ranjan, who was Special Chief Secretary for the ITE&C and Sports Department, has been transferred. He is now the Special Chief Secretary and CEO of the Industry & Investment Cell in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) and the SPEED program (Smart Proactive Efficient and Effective Delivery).
He will also hold additional charge as Special Chief Secretary of the Youth Advancement, Tourism, and Culture (YAT&C) Department and Director of Archaeology. Sanjay Kumar, who was Special Chief Secretary for the Labour, Employment, Training & Factories (LET&F) Department, has been transferred too. He will now be Special Chief Secretary for the Industries & Commerce Department as well as the ITE&C and Sports Department.
Dr Shashank Goel, earlier the Director General of Dr MCR HRD Institute, has been appointed as the Vice Chairman of the Centre for Good Governance. He will also take additional charge as Director General of EPTRI (Environment Protection Training and Research Institute), taking over from Ahmad Nadeem.
Major IAS transfers in Telangana
M. Dana Kishore, earlier Principal Secretary of MA&UD, is now Principal Secretary of Labour, Employment, Training & Factories. He also gets additional charge of Commissioner, Labour; Director, Insurance Medical Services; and Director, Employment & Training. He will continue as Principal Secretary to the Governor.
Ilambarithi K., former GHMC Commissioner, has been posted as Secretary of, the Metropolitan Area & Urban Development Department (covering HMDA limits).
RV Karnan, Director of Health and Family Welfare, will now be the new GHMC Commissioner. TK Sreedevi will serve as Secretary of, the Municipal Administration Department for areas outside HMDA limits, while also continuing her previous additional charge.
EV Narasimha Reddy, Director of School Education, has been made Additional CEO, Industry & Investment Cell & SPEED, and Managing Director, Musi River Development Corporation Ltd (MRDCL).
