Centre removes health secy

The Centre on Tuesday removed Union Health Secretary Keshav Desiraju but no reason was attributed for the sudden action.

Desiraju received his transfer order few hours before he took the stage in a health ministry backed event to celebrate India’s victory over polio.

Interestingly, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad praised the team of officials – led by the health secretary – for their role in eradicating polio from India, which used to be the world’s topmost polio affected state.

Sources said though the officer received his transfer order, he was yet to get his next posting. The seasoned bureaucrat has reportedly been transferred to the Consumer Affairs Ministry, but there is no confirmation.