Sameer Sharma is the new Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh

Vijayawada: The 1985 batch IAS officer Sameer Sharma has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary to the Andhra Pradesh Government. Incumbent Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh Adityanath Das will retire on September 30th, 2021. It may be recalled that Adityanath Das is already on a three-month extension.

As per the tenure, the current CS Adityanath Das (1987 batch) is two years junior to new Chief Secretary Sameer Sharma. The officer is of 1985 batch and has been in the Central Service for many years. He is currently the Director-General of the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs at the Centre.

Despite being in a plum post, his appointment as chief secretary to Andhra Pradesh has become a topic of discussion in Andhra Pradesh. Sameer Sharma is also expected to retire in November 2021 and senior officials have no clue as to why he had chosen the state cadre despite a few months left for retirement. However, the state government would likely seek the centre for extension of his tenure further. Sameer Sharma will assume the office as CS on October 1,2021.

At present, senior-most among the chief secretary-rank IAS officers of Andhra cadre is Ajay Sawhney, who is presently in the central services on deputation. Ajay Sawhney, who is husband of former chief secretary and present state election commissioner Neelam Sawhney, is said to be interested in returning to the state services, provided he is given the chief secretary post.

He had earlier served as principal secretary in the CMO, during former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's term. Later, he opted for central services. Another senior IAS officer Sameer Sharma of 1985 batch, who returned from Delhi to the state services recently at the request of the Chief Minister was finally appointed as CS.