Published May 24, 2026 | 2:51 PM ⚊ Updated May 24, 2026 | 2:51 PM
Revenue Minister was reportedly kept out of the loop on the IAS reshuffle, triggering cabinet discontent and calls to freeze the transfer order.
Synopsis: The Kerala government’s large-scale IAS reshuffle has triggered discontent within the Cabinet, as Revenue Minister AP Anil Kumar was not informed about it in advance. Further, the reshuffle has also drawn criticism from alliance leaders and Opposition over the appointment of former state Chief Electoral Officer Dr Rathan U Kelkar as the chief minister’s private secretary.
The newly sworn-in Kerala government’s large-scale IAS reshuffle has triggered discontent within the Cabinet, as Revenue Minister AP Anil Kumar was not informed about it in advance. The discontent is forcing the state government to consider freezing the transfer order, involving 15 IAS officers, including six district collectors.
The reshuffle, the first major bureaucratic overhaul under the UDF government led by Chief Minister VD Satheesan, was issued on the evening of Saturday, 23 May, after the Chief Secretary allegedly informed the chief minister of the decision over the phone while he was in Delhi.
The order transferred and appointed new district collectors in Kollam, Kozhikode, Palakkad, Pathanamthitta, Kannur and Alappuzha, directing them to take charge by Monday morning.
However, the move soon sparked objections from multiple ministers. Under existing rules, the revenue minister’s consent is mandatory for the transfer of district collectors, but Anil Kumar was reportedly not consulted before the order was issued.
Further, Industry Minister PK Kunhalikutty and Water Resources Minister Mons Joseph also allegedly learned about appointments in their respective departments only after the notification was released.
Minister Shibu Baby John is also learnt to have raised objections over the appointment of an officer considered ”unfavourable” as the new Kollam district collector.
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On Saturday night, the order came out. In a significant administrative reshuffle ahead of a politically crucial period for the state, the government transferred seven district collectors and reassigned a series of senior IAS officers across key departments, including finance, industries, health, local self-government and GST administration.
The large-scale rejig, affecting officers from the 2007 to 2021 batches, also saw the creation of a new ex-cadre post of Commissioner, Goods and Services Tax Department, for a period of one year.
Among the most notable changes was the transfer of collectors in Kozhikode, Kollam, Kannur, Palakkad, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta, marking one of the more extensive district-level reshuffles in recent months.
PB Nooh IAS.
As part of the changes, PB Nooh, who was serving as Special Secretary in the Transport Department, was appointed Commissioner of the newly created Goods and Services Tax Department post, declared equivalent in status and responsibility to the cadre post of Special Secretary in the IAS Selection Grade.
Senior officer Patil Ajit Bhagwatrao, who headed the Kerala State Goods and Services Tax Department, was shifted as Secretary, Finance (Resources) Department.
The reshuffle also moved several serving district collectors into key policy and administrative roles.
Alappuzha Collector Inbasekar K was placed at the disposal of the Water Resources Department for appointment as Managing Director of the Kerala Water Authority, while also being given additional charge as Joint Project Director of the Kerala Climate Resilient Agri-Value Chain Modernisation Project (KERA).
Kollam Collector Devidas N was shifted to the Local Self Government Department for appointment as Director of the Kerala Institute of Local Administration, with additional charge of Managing Director of Impact Kerala Limited.
Kannur Collector Arun K Vijayan was posted as Director of Industries, along with the additional responsibility of Managing Director of the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation.
Kozhikode Collector Snehil Kumar Singh was transferred as Director of Collegiate Education and additionally entrusted with the charge of Commissioner for Entrance Examinations.
Pathanamthitta Collector Prem Krishnan S was moved to the Health and Family Welfare Department as Joint Secretary and Officer on Special Duty.
The reshuffle triggered a chain of collector-level appointments across districts.
Madhavikutty MS IAS.
Madhavikutty MS was posted as Kozhikode Collector, while Nizamudeen A was appointed Pathanamthitta Collector.
Anie Jula Thomas was posted as Kollam Collector, Sudhir K as Palakkad Collector, Shaji V Nair as Alappuzha Collector and Vishnuraj P as Kannur Collector.
In another notable posting, Arun S Nair was transferred as Director of the Social Justice Department and handed multiple additional responsibilities, including Chief Executive Officer of Cochin Smart Mission Limited and Kochi Metropolitan Transport Authority.
Sameer Kishan, Sub Collector of Alappuzha, was posted as Deputy Secretary and Officer on Special Duty in the Industries Department, with additional charge as Director of the Coir Development Department.
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Copy of Order
The reshuffle has also drawn criticism from alliance leaders over the appointment of former state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Dr Rathan U Kelkar as the chief minister’s private secretary.
Amid political controversy over his appointment, Kelkar assumed charge as Secretary to Chief Minister Satheesan on Sunday, despite it being a holiday, following directions from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
Kelkar’s appointment has sparked criticism from the CPI(M), BJP and SDPI, with Opposition parties accusing the Congress of double standards for appointing a former election official to a key political post soon after the Assembly election.
Critics pointed out that the Congress had earlier opposed similar appointments in BJP-ruled states, particularly in West Bengal.
SDPI leader KK Abdul Jabbar also referred to the recent controversy in Kerala over an Election Department communication allegedly carrying the BJP Kerala unit’s seal instead of the Election Commission emblem.
Meanwhile, as part of the chief minister’s new team, T Sreekumar has been appointed Special Private Secretary, while Ceeji GS will serve as Press Secretary.
Senior journalist Roy Mathew has been named Media Secretary.
The first phase of appointments to the chief minister’s personal staff includes 20 members.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
