Patna, Feb. 10: Sanjay Singh will be the next district magistrate of Patna.
Singh, now posted in Gaya in a similar post, was among 55 IAS officers transferred tonight. As many as 23 district magistrates have been shifted in the exercise. Eight officers in the rank of principal secretary have also been given new assignments.
Singh replaces Jitendra Kumar Sinha, who has been shifted to the chief minister’s secretariat.
A major reshuffle in the police set-up too is on the cards. Sources said Patna is set to get a new senior superintendent police and city superintendent of police. However, no official notification had been issued till 10pm.
A reshuffle on such a large scale was due as the model code of conduct was in place for a long period because of the Assembly elections in October-November last year. The code of conduct, under which no official can be transferred unless allowed by the Election Commission, was in place for well over two months.
Moreover, the government has carried out the reshuffle keeping an eye on the local bodies’ elections beginning from April 20.
The key departments which have got new principal secretaries include cabinet coordination, water resources, urban development, science and technology and animal husbandry.
Principal secretary, cabinet co-ordination, Afzal Amanullah, has been shifted to the water resources department in the same rank. Ravi Kant, who was earlier posted as principal secretary, science and technology, has replaced Amanullah in the cabinet coordination department.
Principal secretary, mines, Phul Singh has been appointed advisor to the Bihar State Planning Board. Principal secretary, forest and environment, Shubhkirti Majumdar has replaced him. Principal secretary, urban development department, Girish Shankar has been shifted in the same capacity to the science and technology department.
The government also shifted 99 IPS officers. Eleven superintendents of police have been promoted to the rank of DIG. JS Gangwar has been made inspector-general of Patna. Sunil Kumar will be the new DIG, central range (Patna). SRP (Jamalpur) Alok Kumar will replace Patna senior superintendent of police B.S. Meena. Lande Sandeep has been made City SP, Patna.
