Kerala’s latest IAS reshuffle has changed the leadership of Vizhinjam International Sea Port Ltd, the Kerala Transport Development Finance Corporation and several local-government and infrastructure-linked bodies, while assigning additional responsibilities across key departments.
S Karthikeyan has been appointed the state’s new excise commissioner, replacing Seeram Sambasiva Rao. Karthikeyan will also continue as special secretary in the water resources department. Rao was removed from the excise commissioner’s post following serious differences with the excise minister, according to the Times of India report.
Geromic George has been appointed managing director of Vizhinjam International Sea Port Ltd, the company responsible for the state’s flagship port entity. His services have been placed at the disposal of the ports department for the appointment. George will also continue to hold the additional charge of chief executive officer of the Kerala Maritime Board.
The change comes as the state’s port administration continues to operate through overlapping institutional responsibilities. The appointment gives George charge of VISL while retaining his role in the maritime board, placing two port and maritime-related responsibilities with the same officer. The report does not specify the tenure or any new operational decisions linked to the appointment.
Sharmila Mary Joseph, principal secretary of the transport department, has been assigned the additional charge of chairman and managing director of the Kerala Transport Development Finance Corporation. She replaces Balamurali D, who will now become managing director of the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd. Balamurali will continue as special secretary for food and civil supplies and consumer affairs.
Other changes affect electricity, local government and state infrastructure administration. Prasanth N, chairman and managing director of the Kerala State Electricity Board, will take additional charge as special secretary for zoos, museums, archaeology and archives. M G Rajamanickam, secretary of the local self-government department, has been given additional charge as executive director of Information Kerala Mission.
Devidas N has been appointed director of the Local Self-Government Department’s rural wing. He will also hold additional charges as chief executive officer of LIFE Mission and managing director of IMPACT Kerala, while continuing as labour commissioner. Apurva Tripathi has moved from the rural LSGD director’s post to become joint secretary and officer on special duty in the industries department. She will also hold the additional charge of commissioner of food safety.
The reshuffle also assigns new responsibilities in employment, industrial development, food safety, dairy and overseas welfare. Rahul Krishna Sharma, special commissioner in the state GST department, will additionally hold charge as director of employment and training. Mithun Premraj, director of mining and geology, will become executive director of the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation. Afsana Perween, managing director of Milma, has been assigned additional charge as director of Norka.
Abdul Nasar B has been appointed special secretary in the parliamentary affairs department in addition to his existing responsibilities. Subhash T V will continue as special secretary in the agriculture department and take additional charge as director of Samoohika Sannadhasena and chairperson of the Social Audit Society. The order also keeps multiple senior officers in additional-charge roles across departments, making the implementation of the reshuffle the next administrative milestone.
