In the midst of its fight against the coronaviurs pandemic, the State Government on Wednesday night shifted Health and Family Welfare Secretary Nikunja Bihari Dhal to the Energy Department.
Removal of Dhal from the post has raised many eyebrows as the State Government’s Covid-19 Spokesperson Subroto Bagchi had in March highly praised the officer for joining the duty within 24 hours of his octogenarian father’s death.
Dhal earned praises from all quarters for his commitment to the job as he returned from his village within a few hours after attending his fathers’ funeral.
Earlier, the Government had given an indication when it appointed Additional Chief Secretary Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra in charge of H&FW Department in April, albeit Dhal continued there.