Azam aide shunted in first reshuffle

after suspending an IPS officer on disciplinary grounds, the UP government effected a minor bureaucratic reshuffle, its first, transferring three IAS officers on Saturday.

Secretary, urban development, SP Singh was the first to be shifted. He was a close aide of former urban development minister Mohd Azam Khan. Singh retired in 2015 but was given an extension by the then Samajwadi Party regime. Kumar Kamlesh, principal secretary, general administration department and Home Guards, has been asked to take additional charge of the urban development department, urban employment and poverty alleviation. Singh has been waitlisted.

The other two officers, who were shifted include Bhawani Singh Khangaraut, director, women welfare, who has now been made additional commissioner, MNREGA. Ram Kewal, has been relieved of his charge as special secretary in Agriculture Production Commissioner branch and asked to take over as managing director and director, women welfare.