June 11: Kumud Bansal, an IAS officer who took the lead in banning the interviews for the pre-primary courses, took concrete steps in reducing the weight of the schools bags and introduced moral education, was promoted as secretary, medical education department.

Bansal (1969 batch) was among a dozen senior officers who were transferred today. She was at the helm of affairs of education department for over seven years, probably the longest tenure of an IAS official in one department in Mantralaya.

Bansal will be replaced by forest secretary A K Mago, while chief officer of the Mumbai Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) Ashok Lal has been appointed as the labour commissioner in place of Vinay Pathak, who retired.M B Appalwar will succeed Lal, while general administration department secretary Jayant Kawale has been appointed housing secretary in place of V P Raja, who was holding additional charge. State Excise Commissioner Subodh Kumar will be the new labour secretary in place of Ramesh Kanade, who was been appointed secretary of the newly created department of employment. Ramesh Ubale, has been promoted and posted in place of Kawale.

A P Sinha, who was on deputation to the government of India as Water Transport Commissioner will be new forest secretary, while Chand Goel has been appointed as the Managing Director of government-run Mahananda dairy.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.