Top-notch transfers to be announced soon

Cabinet Minister T R Baalu8217;s wish8212;ousting Road Transport Highways Secretary Vijay Singh and National Highways Authority of India Chairman Pradeep Kumar from his ministry8217;s ambit8212;may finally be granted.

Cabinet Minister T R Baalu8217;s wish8212;ousting Road Transport 038; Highways Secretary Vijay Singh and National Highways Authority of India Chairman Pradeep Kumar from his ministry8217;s ambit8212;may finally be granted.

While Singh is after serving Baalu for a year to replace Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt who retires this month, Kumar would have served barely 10 months before becoming Disinvestment Secretary, a post currently under additional charge of Revenue Secretary P V Bhide.

Baalu had twice sought Kumar8217;s removal and told the Prime Minister8217;s Office that he wanted another officer for the top job as he was dissatisfied with his performance. His reason to The Indian Express for seeking Kumar8217;s ouster was that he wanted work to be expedited. While Brahm Dutt, currently Chairperson of the National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention, will replace Singh. The job of the NHAI chief is likely to go to Jivtesh Singh Maini, presently Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor in the Department of Fertiliser.8221;

Other top-notch transfers that will soon be announced are:

8226; Ajay Shanker, currently Principal Adviser in the Planning Commission as Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy 038; Promotion in place of Ajay Dua, who retires this month.

8226; Sheela Bhide, Special Secretary 038; Financial Advisor in the Ministry of External Affairs, will be given the post of Chairman and Managing Director of India Trade Promotion Organisation. The post is currently an additional charge of Commerce Secretary G K Pillai after N N Khanna demitted office early this month on completion of the three-year tenure.

8226; Culture Secretary Badal Das will hold additional charge of Tourism Secretary as Christy Leon Fernandez has been appointed Secretary to the President.