Vijay Bhaskar to be Karnataka's new chief secretary

BENGALURU:: Karnataka government on Saturday appointed TM Vijay Bhaskar as the new

chief secretary

of Karnataka. Bhaskar, a 1983 IAS officer of the Karnataka cadre was earlier the additional chief secretary to the Karnataka government.


He will replace outgoing K Ratna Prabha, who was on three-month extension after attaining superannuation on March 31 this year.

Bhaskar, an upright officer, known to go by the rule book has two-years of service left. He not enjoys a good rapport with officials but also with the senior ministers.

The 57-year old IAS officer also has a humongous experience having held a number of posts including Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike(BBMP) administrator, chairman of the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), additional chief secretary to Government, rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Urban development department among other departments.

Ratnaprabha, a 1981-batch IAS officer was appointed chief secretary in November 2017 and was given a three-month extension by the previous siddaramaiah government since April 1 due to the assembly poll on May 12. She was the first Dalit woman to become Chief Secretary in Karnataka and the third woman officer to hold the top administrative post.

Chief Minister

H D Kumaraswamy had earlier written to the Centre seeking a three-month extension for Rathna Prabha until September 2018. However, after receiving no response from the Centre on the issue, the state government decided to withdraw the letter and recommend the name of Bhaskar for the post.

Another senior IAS officer D V Prasad from the 1984 batch, who was earlier the principal secretary to Kumaraswamy, when he was CM in 2006 and 2007, was also in the race to become Chief Secretary. But he was not considered at the last minute because he has not much service left and was appointed as additional chief secretary to Karnataka government vacated by Bhaskar.

The cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of chief minister HD Kumaraswamy last Thursday had given full powers to appoint the new chief secretary.

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