AP Secretary LV Subrahmanyam Transferred

The Andhra Pradesh government has transferred Chief Secretary L V Subrahmanyam and posted him as Director-General of the AP Human Resources Development Institute in Bapatla. The orders were issued by Praveen Prakash, the Principal Secretary (Political) of the General Administration Department. Earlier, L V Subrahmanyam sent notice to Praveen Prakash alleging that Praveen Prakash had exhibited ‘grave misconduct’ and ‘misbehavior’ and resorted to ‘willful insubordination’. The notice was said to be served including certain topics in the cabinet meeting held on October 30, without following required procedure.

Last week, two officers have been involved in a fight with the Chief Secretary serving a notice to Praveen Prakash. The CS also sought explanation for the Principal Secretary’s ‘violation of business rules and conduct rules’. The memo says that Praveen Prakash had sent a file regarding the YSR Lifetime Achievement Awards to Subrahmanyam for placing the proposal before the Council of Ministers, without the requisite permissions as per business rules. It is said that Praveen Prakash's proposal had the Chief Minister's approval and so the notice of Subrahmanyam might have irked CM Jagan.

This has raised doubt if the transferred order was really sent by Prakash or the CM! There are also doubts if any officer from the CMO has the authority to transfer any other officer. Retired senior bureaucrat E A S Sarma said, “Use of excessive authority by any officer in CMO is undesirable and reflects poorly on the CMO.”