Sudhanshu Pandey and PK Tripathi of J&K cadre appointed as secretaries in Centre

Srinagar, Apr 26 Two J&K cadre IAS officers have been posted as secretaries in central government departments.

According to an order issued by Department of Personnel and Trainings, Pradip Kumar Tripathi, special secretary and establishment officer, department of Personnel and Trainings has been posted as secretary Ministry of Steel upon superannuation of present incumbent Binoy Kumar on 31.05.2020.

Sudhanshu Panday, additional secretary, department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industries has been posted as secretary Department of Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs , Food and Public Distribution.

Meanwhile Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan, who was due to superannuate this month-end, was on Sunday given a three-month extension in service as the Centre effected a major top-level bureaucratic reshuffle.

The move assumes significance as the Health Ministry is at the forefront of India’s battle against the novel coronavirus.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a three-month extension in Sudan’s service, beyond the date of her superannuation, i.e. April 30, a Personnel Ministry order said.

She will continue to function as the Secretary of the Department of Health and Family Welfare during the period, it said.

In other secretary-level reshuffle, Rural Development Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has been appointed as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Health and Family Welfare Department in the rank of secretary.

He is likely to take over as the secretary of the department after Sudan completes her extended tenure..