Bihar government today transferred nine IAS officers, including Excise and Prohibition Department’s Principal Secretary K K Pathak, who has gone on long leave reportedly in protest against the arrest of an official of his department who acted against a block-level JD(U) leader.
Home Department’s Principal Secretary Amir Subhani has been given additional charge of Registration, Excise and Prohibition Department, a notification issued by the General Administration Department said.
Pathak has been transferred, but kept in waiting for posting till further orders, it said.
Pathak had expressed his displeasure over the arrest of his department’s sub-inspector for taking action against Chandradeep Sen alias Moti Singh, the Harnaut block president of JD(U), from whose house liquor was seized on August 30, and had asked the state government to find his replacement.
A 1990-batch IAS officer, Pathak was a key man in enforcing total prohibition in the state since April.
As per the notification, Education department’s Principal Secretary Dharmendra Singh Gangwar has been made Principal Secretary of General Administration Department. He will also hold the additional charge of Principal Secretary of Vigilance Department.
Health Department’s Principal Secretary R K Mahajan will
hold additional charge of Education Department in the same capacity, the notification said, adding that Mahajan will also hold additional charge of Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Resident Commissioner’s office at New Delhi.
Environment and Forest Department’s Principal Secretary Vivek Kumar Singh will hold additional charge of Principal Secretary of Revenue and Land Reforms Department and Director of Chakbandi, Patna.
Energy Department’s Principal Secretary Pratyaya Amrit, will hold additional charge of Principal Secretary of the Disaster Management Department.
Jitendra Srivastava, Executive Director of State Health Society has been transferred to the Education Department as Secretary.
Shashi Bhushan Kumar, Additional Secretary of Fish and Animal Resources Department, has been transferred to the Health Department in the same capacity, the notification said. He will also hold additional charge of Executive Director of State Health Society, Patna.
Pradeep Kumar Jha, Additional Secretary of Health Department, will also hold additional charge of Managing Director of Bihar Medical Services and Infrastructure Corporation Limited (BMSICL), the notification said.
The government also approved Principal Secretary of Revenue and Land Reforms Department Vyasji’s decision for voluntary retirement with effect from September 12.
Vyasji was also holding additional charge of Principal Secretary of Disaster Management Department.