Haryana govt removes top sports officers after deaths of 2 athletes

The reshuffle follows two tragic incidents in which basketball players lost their lives after iron poles holding hoops collapsed. While national-level basketball player Hardik Rathee, 16, died in Rohtak on November 25, a day earlier, Aman, 15, succumbed to his injuries during treatment at PGIMS Rohtak.

The changes in the sports department were part of a larger transfer and posting order involving 20 IAS officers in Haryana issued on Sunday.

Among other appointments, IAS officer Amit Gupta Agrawal has been given charge of commissioner of the heritage and tourism department, replacing IPS officer Kala Ramachandran. Agrawal will continue to oversee the industries and commerce department as well as public relations. Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Arun Kumar Gupta, will now also handle the urban local bodies department and serve as member secretary of the Kurukshetra Development Board.

A 2006 batch IAS officer, Ashok Kumar Meena, has been appointed director general of the urban local bodies department, while Ravi Prakash Gupta will serve as the new commissioner of Hisar division.

Preeti, a 2015 batch IAS officer, will be the new deputy commissioner of Yamunanagar, while Mahender Pal has been appointed deputy commissioner of Hisar. Aparajit, a 2018 batch IAS officer, will take charge as deputy commissioner of Kaithal, and 2011 batch officer Pardeep Kumar has been named director of the state transport department.