Hyderabad: In a sweeping administrative overhaul, the Telangana govt is set to remove 5,700 retired officers, including over 1,000 senior-level officials, from various departments, state-run corporations, and agencies.
The move, aimed at ending the prolonged rehiring of retired officials, has already led to the removal of around 180 officers from the municipal administration and urban development department on Thursday.
Several other departments, including irrigation, education, roads and buildings, transport, police, power, and finance, are expected to issue similar removal orders by late Friday night.
Chief secretary A Santhi Kumari issued a circular on March 25 directing all special chief secretaries, principal secretaries, and department heads to implement the removals immediately and submit compliance reports by March 31. Retired officers working on contract, outsourcing arrangements, or other govt-funded positions will also be affected. However, the govt has left room for exceptions—if any department requires to continue services of a retired officer, a justification must be submitted for approval.
Interestingly, just a day after the removal directive, Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited managing director NVS Reddy formally requested an extension of his tenure, citing the need for his leadership as the state embarks on Hyderabad Metro’s phase II expansion. With land acquisition for the Old City Metro underway and detailed project reports in progress, the state govt is likely to retain him. “While MAUD removed 177 officers, we expect around 30 to 40 requests for continuation,” a senior official told TOI.
Among the 5,700 retired employees, some had already stepped down after their extended terms ended. For instance, retired IAS officers V Anil Kumar, Aadhar Sinha, and I Rani Kumudini were relieved last year. However, Kumudini was later appointed as the state election commissioner. In the irrigation department, senior officers like former engineer-in-chief C Muralidhar were removed following the Medigadda probe.
Sources in the general administration department revealed this large-scale removal is part of a broader effort to prevent the continued rehiring of retired officials, particularly in cases where their services are no longer needed. The decision also follows allegations that some officers exploited their political connections to secure post-retirement roles with undue influence.
Last year, govt identified over 1,050 senior officers—including bureaucrats—who remained in the same posts after retirement or were appointed as officers on special duty with near-identical responsibilities. Some of these officers issued govt orders despite lacking the authority to do so. While a few were removed, many reportedly retained their positions due to political backing.
For instance, a senior official who worked in the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board for nearly a decade after retirement was later reassigned to another department, citing his expertise in preparing detailed project reports and handling tenders.
With the latest move, govt aims to ensure a more transparent and accountable administration, preventing retired officials from holding onto power indefinitely while making way for fresh leadership in governance, sources said.