Five new secretaries appointed; Jugal Mohapatra gets Rural

Senior IAS officer Jugal Kishore Mohapatra was today made the new Rural Development Secretary in an appointment that came at a time when the controversial land acquisition bill was facing growing opposition.
Mohapatra, a 1979 batch officer of Odisha cadre, was among the five new secretaries appointed by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet, two days before the presentation of the Union Budget.
Mohapatra, who is presently Secretary, Department of Fertilizers, has come in place of L C Goyal, who was earlier appointed as Home Secretary.
A former Odisha Chief Secretary, he will hold the additional charge of the post of Secretary, Department of Fertilizers for a period of three months with immediate effect or until further orders, an order issued late night by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said.

Siraj Hussain, a 1979 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre and at present Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, has been appointed as Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Co-operation under Ministry of Agriculture in place of Ashish Bahuguna, it said.
Bahuguna, a 1978 batch IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre, is retiring on Saturday.

S M Vijayanand, a 1981 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre, has been appointed as Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj. He is presently Special Secretary, Department of Rural Development.
Ranglal Jamuda, a 1981 batch IAS officer of Odisha cadre, has been appointed as Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries in place of Hussain. Jamuda is presently Special Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Co-operation.

Ashok Kumar Angurana, a 1980 batch IAS officer of Jammu and Kashmir cadre, has been appointed as Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandary, Dairying and Fisheries. Angurana is presently Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
The Appointments Committee of Cabinet has also approved assignment of additional charge of the post of Secretary, Department of Health Research, to Bhanu Pratap Sharma.
Sharma, a 1981 batch IAS officer of Bihar cadre, is presently Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. He will hold the additional charge for a period of three months with effect from the date of relinquishing of charge by incumbent V M Katoch, it said.