KSEB chief shifted in major reshuffle

The government has appointed N Prasanth as chairman and managing director of the Kerala State Electricity Board, replacing M G Rajamanickam, in a sweeping reshuffle of senior IAS officers that also places K R Jyothilal in charge of Home and Vigilance.

The transfers, notified by the General Administration Department on Monday, November 2, extend across Finance, Health, Industries, Transport, Agriculture and several public institutions. The order was signed by Chief Secretary Bishwanath Sinha.

Prasanth has been appointed to the electricity board against a newly created ex-cadre post for one year. He will continue as Special Secretary of Sports and Youth Affairs, giving him responsibility for the power utility alongside his existing government assignment.

Rajamanickam has been transferred as Secretary of the Local Self Government Department. He will retain additional charge of the Revenue (Devaswom) Department and his responsibilities connected with the Guruvayur and Koodalmanikyam Devaswoms.

The leadership change at KSEB comes amid scrutiny of electricity availability and arrangements for purchasing power from outside the state. The transfer order does not establish that those issues prompted Rajamanickam’s reassignment, and no official reason for his replacement has been specified.

Jyothilal, previously Additional Chief Secretary handling Finance, Taxes and Public Procurement Advisory matters, has been appointed Additional Chief Secretary of Home and Vigilance. He will also oversee Water Resources, Housing and Coir as additional responsibilities.

Minhaj Alam, who previously headed Home and Vigilance, has been transferred to Finance as Additional Chief Secretary. His responsibilities include Taxes, Public Procurement Advisory and the Rebuild Kerala Initiative. He has additionally been appointed chairman of the Kerala Financial Corporation.

The exchange places two senior officers in departments central to the government’s administrative and financial operations. Jyothilal’s new assignment covers the Home and Vigilance portfolios, while Alam assumes oversight of state finances and associated expenditure and procurement functions.

Puneet Kumar has been appointed Additional Chief Secretary of the Power Department, replacing his Water Resources assignment. He will continue as Resident Commissioner at Kerala House in New Delhi and take responsibility in the Chief Secretary’s office for coordination and programme management.

The changes affect both the administrative department responsible for electricity policy and the leadership of KSEB, the state-owned utility responsible for electricity supply and distribution.

Mohammed Hanish has been transferred from Industries to become Additional Chief Secretary of Health and Family Welfare. He will also handle Ayush, General Education, Revenue matters relating to Wakf and Minority Welfare.

Sharmila Mary Joseph, who was Principal Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, has been posted as Principal Secretary of Transport. She will oversee Women and Child Development. The changes bring new leadership to both the health administration and transport portfolio.

M Beena, returning from central deputation, has been appointed Principal Secretary of Industries, with additional charge of External Cooperation. Her posting fills the Industries assignment vacated by Hanish.

Anupama T V has moved from Local Self Government to become Secretary of Finance (Expenditure), with additional responsibility for Environment. Gokul G R will continue as Special Secretary of Planning and Economic Affairs and assume charge as member secretary of the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council.

Veena N Madhavan has been appointed Secretary of Agriculture and Agricultural Production Commissioner. P B Nooh, previously State GST Commissioner, has been posted as Special Secretary of Labour, while Jafar Malik, returning from central deputation, becomes State GST Commissioner and Special Secretary of Taxes.

S Suhas has been appointed Special Secretary of Electronics and Information Technology, with additional responsibility for Industries, while continuing as managing director of Cochin International Airport Limited. Seeram Sambasiva Rao moves to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development as Special Secretary, retaining his role as Excise Commissioner.

Subhash T V has been assigned to lead the Kerala Medical Services Corporation as managing director and will serve as Commissioner of Food Safety. Afsana Perween, returning from leave, has been posted as managing director of the Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation, known as Milma, with additional charge of NORKA Roots.

Other postings include Anu Kumari as Director of Tourism, Haritha V Kumar as Special Secretary of Social Justice, Abdul Nasar B as Special Secretary of Cooperation, and Asif K Yusuf as Additional Secretary of Higher Education, with responsibilities for collegiate education and entrance examinations.