Ajeya Kallam assumed charge as Chief Secretary (CS) at Secretariat, near here, on Tuesday. He took charge from Satya Prakash (SP) Tucker, who retired from service on attaining superannuation. Mr. Ajeya Kallam, a 1983 batch IAS officer, however, will retire on March 31.
The State government issued a single GO appointing Mr. Ajeya Kallam and Dinesh Kumar as Chief Secretaries.
Mr. Dinesh Kumar, who is also 1983 batch IAS officer, will succeed Mr. Kallam as Chief Secretary. Both of them met Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu at his chambers in the Secretariat.
Mr. Naidu greeted them with a shawl and a bouquet. Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu and Mr. Tucker were present.
Later, Mr. Kallam addressed a meeting organised by the Secretariat employees.
He recalled that Mr. Tucker handed him over charge when he joined ITDA during initial days of career. Incidentally, Mr. Tucker handed over the charge as CS now, he said.
Employees Association leader Muralikrishna said that the government should have appointed Mr. Kallam as CS for at least six months.
According to information, the State government had sought a six-month extension for Mr. Kallam, which the Union gpovernment turned down.
