Who will be new CS and DGP of Telangana ?

With Chief Secretary A Santhi Kumari set to retire from service this month-end, there is a lot of speculation in the Secretariat corridors on whether she will be given any extension or who will succeed her in the coveted post

Hyderabad : With Chief Secretary A Santhi Kumari set to retire from service this month-end, there is a lot of speculation in the Secretariat corridors on whether she will be given any extension or who will succeed her in the coveted post.

Taking over reins from former Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar in January 2023, Santhi Kumari is the first woman Chief Secretary of Telangana.

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Now, as she is set to retire from service on attaining the age of superannuation this month end, there are predictions that she might not be given any extension. This is mainly because of the recent State government order to all departments to terminate the services of all officers, who are serving on extension, unless necessary.

In this context, the names of Special Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao, Special Chief Secretary (IT) Jayesh Ranjan and Special Chief Secretary (R&B) Vikas Raj are doing rounds in the probable list.

Carrying the reputation for fiscal expertise K Ramakrishna Rao is the front-runner for the coveted post. However, he does not have much service left and is set to retire in August this year. A section of employees in the Secretariat strongly believe that the government might appoint him as Advisor (Finance) to utilize his services after retirement. Considering the financial constraints being faced by the government, it badly needs his expertise.

Special Chief Secretary Jayesh Ranjan, who hails from Bihar, is next front runner in the list. However, in March 2022, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who was TPCC president then, took a jibe at the BRS Government for allotting top positions to officials from Bihar. Refering the names former Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, former DGP Anjani Kumar, Special Chief Secretary Arvind Kumar and others, he had then invoked “Telugu pride” and asked the people whether they wanted the ‘Bihari batch’ to rule Telangana. If the government has other plans, then Special Chief Secretary Vikas Raj is another option. He has long service left till 2028 and is known for strong administrative acumen.

DGP set to retire in September

Though not immediately, Director General of Police Jitender is also set to retire from service in September this year. He is one among the seven senior IPS officers, who will be retiring from service.

Drugs Control Administration Director VB Kamalasan Reddy will be retiring on April 30, Medak SP D Uday Kumar Reddy on May 31, IGP Multi Zone II V Satyanarayana on June 30, Vigilance and Enforcement DG Kothakota Sreenivasa Reddy on August 31, Additional Commissioner (Traffic) P Vishwaprasad on November 30 and Special Chief Secretary (Home) Ravi Gupta on December 31.

Speculation is rife that the government may consider one among the senior IPS officers, including City Police Commissioner CV Anand, Intelligence Chief B Shivdhar Reddy and DGP CID Shikha Goel for the top post after the retirement of DGP Jitender. If Shikha Goel is selected, she would be the first woman DGP of Telangana.