Two top Health Department IAS officers shunted out in Karnataka
Sources say their equation with the minister did not go well, resulting in both being ‘shown the door’
BENGALURU:
It,’s anyone’s guess what went wrong in the Health Department, but the outcome is that is both the top officials in charge of Health and Medical Education have been shunted out.
Health Commissioner Thrilok Chandra has been moved out as Health Commissioner after a period of 222 days, while Dr J Ravishankar exits after only 27 days as Secretary, Health and Family Welfare (Medical Education).
Minister ‘unpicks’ duo
Both officers were picked by Health and Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar. Thrilok Chandra had replaced IAS officer Pankaj Kumar Pandey, who had successfully handled the first Covid-19 wave in Karnataka, while Ravishankar had come in place of TK Anil Kumar. Now, both Chandra and Ravishankar have been, so to speak, shown the door.
Sources said their equation with the Minister did not go as well as expected and both officers were made political scapegoats.
Also Read: D Randeep, IAS, transferred as Karnataka’s Health Commissioner
A top source on condition of anonymity told TheBengaluruLive, “The Minister wanted both Thrilok Chandra and Ravishankar to be moved out. Both are honest officers. The Minister got upset on an issue and that issue became the reason for the ouster of both.”
An official communique issued by DPAR reads: “Dr KV Thrilok Chandra, IAS (KN: 2007), Commissioner, Health & Family Welfare and Ayush Services, Bengaluru, is transferred with immediate effect and posted until further orders as Special Commissioner (Health & IT), Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, Bengaluru, vice D Randeep, IAS, transferred.”
The same communique reads: “Dr J.Ravishankar, IAS (KN:2001), Secretary to Government, Health and Family Welfare Department (Medical Education), Bengaluru, is transferred with immediate effect and posted until further orders as Secretary to Government, Housing Department, Bengaluru relieving Mohammad Mohsin, IAS, from concurrent charge. Dr J Ravishankar, IAS, is also placed in concurrent charge in the post of Commissioner for Excise, Bengaluru, until further orders.”
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