HCU Land row: Smita Sabharwal transferred, Jayesh Ranjan is the new Toursim face

Hyderabad: In a major bureaucratic reshuffle, the Telangana government has transferred several IAS officers. Senior IAS officer Jayesh Ranjan is the new Tourism face for Telangana.

A government order (GO) listing the new appointments was issued on Sunday. Jayesh Ranjan replaces senior IAS officer Smita Sabharwal, who has been transferred and posted as Member Secretary, Finance.

Senior IAS officer Jayesh Ranjan has been appointed as Special Chief Secretary and CEO of the Industry & Investment Cell in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) and SPEED. He has also been given full additional charge (FAC) as Special Chief Secretary of the Youth Advancement, Tourism & Culture (YAT&C) Department, and Director of Archaeology.

Ranjan will now lead the preparations for the 72nd edition of the Miss World beauty pageant, which is scheduled to take place in Telangana from May 7 to 31, 2025.

India is hosting Miss World for the third time. The previous edition was held in Mumbai in 2024, while the country first hosted the event in Bangalore in 1996.

The reshuffle comes shortly after Smita Sabharwal received a notice from the Telangana police. She had reshared an AI-generated image related to the ongoing controversy over large-scale tree felling in the Kancha Gachibowli forest, near the University of Hyderabad. The image, created in a ‘Studio Ghibli’ style and posted by the handle 'Hi Hyderabad' on X (formerly Twitter) on March 31, depicted earth-moving machinery near the iconic Mushroom Rock, with a peacock and deer observing the scene.

Other Key IAS Transfers:

Sanjay Kumar – Special Chief Secretary, Industries & Commerce Department, ITE&C, and Sports Department.

M. Dana Kishore – Principal Secretary, LET&F Department; also FAC Commissioner, Labour; Director, Insurance Medical Services; and Director, Employment & Training.

T.K. Sreedevi – Secretary, Municipal Administration Department (outside HMDA); also FAC Commissioner & Director of Municipal Administration.

Ilambarithi K. – Secretary, Metropolitan Area & Urban Development Department (within HMDA limits).

K. Shashanka – Commissioner, Future City Development Authority (FCDA); continues as FAC Director, Mines & Geology.

S. Harish – CMD, GENCO; also FAC Special Commissioner, I&PR & E.O. Special Secretary, GA(I&PR) Department; continues as FAC Joint Secretary (DM), Revenue Department.

K. Nikhila – FAC Secretary & CEO, Telangana Human Rights Commission.

S. Sangeetha Satyanarayana – Director, Health & Family Welfare; also FAC CEO, Arogyasri Health Care Trust.

S. Venkata Rao – Director, Endowments; also FAC Executive Officer, Yadagirigutta Temple.

P. Katyayani Devi – Additional CEO, SERP.

E.V. Narsimha Reddy – Additional CEO, Industry & Investment Cell & SPEED; also FAC Managing Director, Musi River Development Corporation Ltd (MRDCL).

Bhorkhade Hemant Sahadeorao – Zonal Commissioner, GHMC.

G. Phaneendra Reddy – Managing Director, Telangana Medical Services Infrastructure Development Corporation (TGMSIDC).

P. Kadhiravan – Joint Commissioner, PR & RD.

K. Vidya Sagar (Non-Cadre) – Additional Collector (Local Bodies), Hyderabad; also FAC Chief Rationing Officer, Hyderabad.

R. Upender Reddy (Non-Cadre) – Secretary, HMDA.