Defence News
Two ministers appoint different officers as defence ministry spokesperson on same day.
In an unusual development, two officers have been appointed as spokesperson in the Ministry of Defence, a post that has traditionally been held by a single officer.
While full clarity is yet to emerge, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting passed an order on Wednesday, appointing Indian Information Service officer Nidhi Pandey as Additional Director General in charge of the defence ministry.
Traditionally, this has been the designation given to the official spokesperson of the ministry.
On the same day, an official statement from the defence ministry named Swarnashree Rao Rajashekar, a 1997 batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS), as official spokesperson.
The post had been lying vacant for the past few weeks after the incumbent, Mattu J.P. Singh, was moved to All India Radio.
Rajashekar, well versed with the functioning of the defence ministry given her cadre and past postings, has already taken charge as spokesperson and started official work as well.
It is unclear if Pandey will still be attached to the defence ministry or will be given a new assignment.
Pandey was handling media accreditation with the Press Information Bureau, among other things.
The defence ministry spokesperson is an important post, with public relations officers from all three services reporting to it.
Besides, a large staff of photographers and officials spread throughout the country also report to the spokesperson.
IIS shake-up
There have been a series of transfers and new postings of Indian Information Service officers in the past few months, with the government seeking to send officers posted in Delhi for long periods on outstation assignments.
Rajesh Malhotra, who was handling the Election Commission for several years, was moved to the finance ministry.
Earlier, K.S. Dhatwalia, who was the Home ministry spokesperson, was moved to Imphal. Railways spokesperson Anuj Saxena was also posted out of Delhi.
The IIS officers’ association is believed to have taken up the issue with the ministry in October, contending that officers close to retirement should not be given outstation postings.
