Ranchi: Lalbiaktluanga Khiangte took charge as the new Chief Secretary of Jharkhand on Thursday. Khiangte, a seasoned IAS officer of the 1988 batch, previously held the position of Director General at the administrative training institute (ATI)—Sri Krishna Institute of Public Administration (SKIPA) and served in an additional capacity as the Additional Chief Secretary for the Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Department, sources said.
His appointment comes as a surprising turn of events following the transfer of the former Chief Secretary, Sukhdev Singh, on the previous Wednesday. Sukhdev Singh has been re-positioned as the Director General of SKIPA.
Notably, Sukhdev Singh was appointed as Chief Secretary by Chief Minister Hemant Soren in March 2020, approximately three months after assuming office. At the time, it was anticipated that he would complete his term as Chief Secretary of the State, with his retirement due in March 2024.
However, in an unexpected move, Singh has now been transferred and assigned as the Director General of ATI.
Lalbiaktluanga Khiangte is scheduled to retire on October 31, 2024, and is expected to continue in his new role until that date, as confirmed by reliable sources.
