Telangana officers seek plum postings

Hyderabad: IAS and IPS officers who were given a “raw deal” in the united state are now seeking plum postings.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who is racing against time to fill vacant posts is finding the going tough in selecting the “right person for the right job” with a clean image. The “request” for key postings is proving to be a big headache for Mr Rao.

After much deliberation, the Chief Minister had appointed chief secretary Rajiv Sharma, who was in the Union home ministry. He also brought in Coal India chairman Narsinga Rao to head the CMO as principal secretary besides Ms Smitha Sabharwal as additional secretary to CM.

The CM was impressed by her performance as collector in Medak district and Karimnagar where she improved medicare in government hospitals, especially for women.

Incidentally, she is the first women officer to be posted in CMO by any government, but her posting also raised eyebrows among the IAS fraternity since she is a junior.

Following delay in postings, Mr Rao reportedly instructed his aides to prepare a list of good officers and in a jiffy gave them postings that did not go well with some Telangana officers.

“Telangana officers got a raw deal so far. We expect the Chief Minister to undo the injustice in the new state. Telangana officers should get preference in the region,” a senior official remarked.

There is clamour among officers for posting in the coveted CMO, but Mr Rao is choosy.

Interestingly, not many officers are keen to take up the post of commissioner, information and public relations, which oversees the government publicity and deals with media. The quick change of IAS officers in a span of few days even for holding additional charge speaks volumes.

After Mr Dana Kishore, who was commissioner of combined Andhra Pradesh, IAS officer Mr B. Janardhan Reddy's (Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration) given additional charge.

However, Mr Reddy reportedly backed out since he has other departments under him.

In partial modification of the orders, government on June 11 issued orders giving Mr B Venkatesham, IAS officer of 1995 batch and presently Vice chairman and Managing Director of Housing Corporation full additional charge of the post of Commissioner I&PR & EO Secretary to Government,

GAD instead of Mr Janardhana Reddy, IAS(96), Commissioner & Director of Municipal Administration.

Even before the ink has dried on the GO, the government has decided to post Mr R.V. Chandravadan, presently heading the Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu as new commissioner of information and public relations!

Mr Chandravadan, a Hyderabadi, was Commissioner of I and PR department earlier besides serving as Additional Commisioner, GHMC.