Hyderabad: In a major administrative shift, the Telangana government has officially appointed senior IAS officer Sanjay Jaju as the state’s new Chief Secretary.
The official orders, issued on Friday, mark a homecoming for the 1992-batch officer. Jaju will succeed the outgoing Chief Secretary, K. Ramakrishna Rao, whose tenure wraps up at the end of this month on June 30. Following his retirement, Rao will transition into a new role as an Advisor and Ex-Officio Special Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
A Homecoming Rooted in Local Legacy
For those tracking Telangana’s administrative history, Sanjay Jaju is far from a stranger. Following the state’s bifurcation, he was formally allocated to the Telangana cadre. However, his local legacy goes back even further to the days of undivided Andhra Pradesh.
Locals and tech enthusiasts will remember him as a digital pioneer. Jaju was instrumental in designing and deploying Mee Seva, the landmark digital portal that revolutionized how the common public interacts with governance, bringing essential state services right to people’s doorsteps. He also served with distinction as the Commissioner of the erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH) and as the Secretary of the IT Department.
A Decade of Distinquished Central Service
In October 2014, Jaju transitioned to central deputation, where he spent over a decade shaping national infrastructure and communications. His impressive stint at the Centre included:
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Director at NHIDCL (until March 2018), where he was credited with digitizing national highway systems.
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Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Defence (Defence Production wing).
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Secretary of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), and most recently, Secretary of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.
Recognizing his immense administrative depth, the Telangana government formally requested his repatriation. The Centre cleared his return to his parent state cadre just a couple of days ago, paving the way for his appointment to the top bureaucratic office.
What Lies Ahead for the New Chief Secretary
Sanjay Jaju isn’t just taking over the administrative helm; he is stepping into a highly dynamic role. Alongside his responsibilities as Chief Secretary, he will also hold Full Additional Charge (FAC) of key growth-driving departments:
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Special Chief Secretary for Industries & Commerce
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Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (ITE&C)
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CEO of the Industry & Investment Cell in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO)
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The SPEED (Smart Proactive Efficient and Effective Delivery) initiative.
With a service tenure extending until February 2029, Jaju’s appointment brings a promise of long-term stability and robust policy execution. Hyderabad and Telangana are eyeing an aggressive push for tech infrastructure and global investment, and a seasoned administrative captain has just taken the wheel.
