Andhra Pradesh: Chief Secretary LV Subrahmanyam transfer, still hard nut to crack for IAS officials

Amaravati: Abrupt transfer of former CS LV Subrahmanyam still remained a talk of the issue among top bureaucrats at AP secretariat. It is still a hard nut to crack for the IAS officials.

Though the chief secretary handed over the charge to CCLA Neerabh Kumar Prasad on Wednesday, yet the reason for his transfer was kept as secret. Even the senior most IAS officials were unable to understand this development at the secretariat.

A senior IAS officer informed with this correspondent on anonymity condition, "It is not like any other transfer in the state government. It must be seen in a different manner. Since, the formation of the new government and YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has assumed the charge as Chief Minister, he has been transferring all the IAS, IFS and IPS officials. At that time, in any occasion, there were no doubts and concerns about all such transfers. Because, Jagan formed new government and he had certain ideas on how the administration should be. After completing five months and continuing Subrahmanyam as CS till recently, the government transferred him all of a sudden, without establishing the grounds. It raised suspects".

Another officer observed that, "It would be a serious warning to all the bureaucrats in the state. Nothing could be taken as a granted".

Reacting on the developments took place before the transfer, an IAS officer stated, "Subrahmanyam issued Show Cause notice to Praveen Prakash, Principal Secretary, GAD (Political) on a couple of issues for the violations in following the Business Rules. Within three days later, the Chief Minister ordered the same Principal Secretary to transfer the Chief Secretary. This became most striking and worrying factor".

While describing the nature of the Chief Minister, a senior IAS officer explained that the Show Cause notice alone might not be the proper reason behind the transfer. There might be more reasons. Jagan is not a leader who reacts on small issues, the officer added. The Show Cause notice to the Principal Secretary might be the triggering point for the transfer, but there might be a wide gap between then Chief Secretary and Chief Minister on various occasions.

Before this development, Praveen Prakash also amended the Business Rules 2018, through a Government Order, which was the first shocking development for the top bureaucrats in the state. Within a fortnight, the Jagan government gave two strokes to the bureaucrats.

On the other hand, after handed over the charge to Neerabh Kumar, Subrahmanyam has taken one month leave, between November 6 to December 6.

The sources at the Chief Minister's office informed that the senior IAS Nilam Sawhney, who is in central service likely to be appointed as new CS.

After she return to the State from the central services, the state government will send the her name to the union government's approval to appoint her as a new CS. Till then, the government will continue Neerabh Kumar as in charge CS, sources added.