17 IAS officers shuffled by Election Commission

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government on Monday transferred 17 IAS officers, including seven district collectors recently shifted by Election Commission. A government order by Chief secretary K. Gnanadesikan said V. Sampath, N. Venkatachalam, N. Hariharan and M. Karunakaran who have completed induction training will return as collectors of Salem, Theni, Dindigul and Tirunelveli districts. R Nandagopal who was on leave, is the Vellore collector again. Senior IAS officers D. Karthickeyan and Satyabrata Sahoo who were appointed early this month as senior collectors of Salem and Dindigul following complaints to EC on free of flow of cash for votes, were also transferred.

Karthickeyan will return to Chennai as commissioner of Archaeology and Sahoo will be transport commissioner. Rajendra Ratnoo, collector, Vellore, has been transferred as managing director, Poompuhar Shipping Corporation and T. N. Venkatesh, collector, Tirurvarur district,  has been posted as managing director, Tamil Nadu Handloom Weavers Co operative society.    Director of public relations J. Kumaraguruburan, who was relieved as managing director, Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation by EC, will now hold full charge as MD of the company. According to informed sources, the offices of Chief Minister and state top brass at  the secretariat are likely to be intact with minimal transfers for now. Monday’s transfers were just reverting officers to their previous positions and department secretaries are also unlikely to be transferred, the sources said.