A major administrative reshuffle took place in the Uttar Pradesh government following removal of Vijay Shanker Pandey from the post of principal secretary information for his alleged links with Pune stud farm owner Hasan Ali Khan. Pandey,who was also holding the additional charge of Food and Drug Authority and secretariat administration,has been relieved from all the charges,an official spokesman said here. While divisional commissioner Prashant Trivedi has been given additional charge of the information department,secretary higher education Avneesh Kumar Awasthi has been given additional charge of secretariat administration. Awasthi has been relieved from the charge of secretary tourism and culture,besides director general UP Tourism Development Corporation. Secretary horticulture Manoj Kumar Singh has been given additional charge of tourism department. Chairman administrative tribunal Stuti Narai Kakkar has been given additional charge of principal secretary FDA and director culture. Pandey's removal has led to revamp of the information department. Special secretary information Ajay Kumar Upadhyaya,who was having additional charge of information directorate has been shifted to rural development department as additional commissioner. Additional commissioner rural development Badal Chatterjee has been posted as additional director at information directorate. Special secretary home S K Ojha has been posted as special secretary information. Additional commissioner cane development Ram Vishal Mishra has been posted as municipal commissioner Agra,whereas special secretary APC branch Dinesh Chandra has been posted as director horticulture. With the Enforcement Directorate preparing to question Vijay Shankar Pandey,Principal Secretary (Information),in connection with the passport procured by Khan and some investments done abroad,the state government quickly distanced itself from the issue. The UP government and the Chief Minister's office have nothing to do with Khan and if there is any proof of the allegations against Pandey,then he has to respond in his individual capacity,Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh told reporters here.
