Tamil Nadu transfers Beela Rajesh as Health Secretary, brings in J Radhakrishnan as COVID crisis worsens in the state

• Tamil Nadu Health Secretary Beela Rajesh has been transferred to the commercial taxes and registration department, amid the sudden spike in the coronavirus cases in the state.
  
• J Radhakrishnan, who was recently appointed as the Special Nodal Officer to coordinate the COVID efforts in Chennai, will be the new health secretary.
  
• According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of positive infections in Tamil Nadu stood at 38,716, as on June 12.
  
• Presently, Radhakrishnan is the commissioner of Revenue Administration, Disaster Management and Mitigation, Chennai.

Tamil Nadu Health Secretary Beela Rajesh has been transferred to the commercial taxes and registration department, amid the sudden spike in the coronavirus cases in the state. J Radhakrishnan, who was recently appointed as the Special Nodal Officer to coordinate the COVID efforts in Chennai, will be the new health secretary, as per the latest directive.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of positive infections in Tamil Nadu stood at 38,716, as on June 12, 2020. Of this, Chennai has reported the maximum number of cases at 27,000. While 20,705 people in the state have been cured so far.

Presently, Radhakrishnan is the commissioner of Revenue Administration, Disaster Management and Mitigation, Chennai. According to the government orders, “he will continue to hold the post until further orders.”

“We will try our best to work hard to ensure that we are able to get to a COVID-19 free Chennai. We will work with the entire team and the common people and work on how to address this,” Mr. Radhakrishnan told The Hindu on May 1, on being appointed as the special nodal officer.

However, the transfer orders have led to speculations on the reasons as to what Beela Rajesh, who was the state’s most visible face during the COVID crisis, is transferred at an uncertain time.

Radhakrishnan, who is a senior bureaucrat, is known for his work as the district collector of Nagapattinam during Tsunami in 2004. He has also held the position of Assistant Country Director, Disaster Management for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

See also:
Punjab coronavirus cases spike to 2,887 — 86 new cases, 3 deaths reported on June 11

Telangana Coronavirus cases rise to 4,320, 165 dead, 1,993 cured till June 11