New Delhi: Senior IAS officer Supriya Sahu, who was leading the charge on environment and forests for the Tamil Nadu government, is among the 17 officers recently transferred in the major reshuffle ordered by the state.
The transfer of Sahu, who has been at the forefront of significant environmental reforms and policies in Tamil Nadu over the last five years, has attracted a wave of criticism from experts and colleagues within the government. Many have pointed out that the move might have been “ill-conceived” and could hamper the environment-related work happening in the state.
A 15 July order issued by the Tamil Nadu government transferred additional chief secretary Sahu, heading the environment, climate change, and forests department, to the entrepreneurship, development, and innovation institute as a commissioner. Other senior officers have also been moved, including J Radhakrishnan, who was serving as the additional chief secretary and chairman and managing director of the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation (TNPDCL), and V Arun Roy, who was secretary to the higher education department.
Senior officials from the Tamil Nadu government who have worked with Sahu during her tenure in the environment department said that her transfer—and that of the other officers—was not immediately expected. However, it was impending with the recent change of power in the state. They said the order was part of “routine transfers” and should be treated as such.
“Every new government calls for a reshuffle. The idea is to bring officers that their people are comfortable with. So, it was bound to happen,” an official told ThePrint on the condition of anonymity.
Sahu has not commented on the transfer. But the order has started a wave of online support, with many environmental and social activists criticising the TVK-led government for the decision. This is the first major rejig since Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay took charge.
Senior journalist, filmmaker, and policy commentator Radhakrishnan RK called the transfers “vindictive” and “ridiculously ignorant”.
Vindictive and ridiculously ignorant transfers of Supriya Sahu, and Dr JRK by @CMOTamilnadu. Jrk will retire in a few months.
Even @PMOIndia had praised @supriyasahuias. She should just opt for retirement rather than satisfy some idiots ego in the Tamilnadu CMO.
— RadhakrishnanRK, PhD. (@RKRadhakrishn) July 15, 2026
Countering the online claims, the Tamil Nadu government officer quoted above said that transfers are a part of the bureaucratic process.
“Officers cannot start and retire from one post. They will be moved around. A good officer will improve any department they take up,” the officer added.
Sahu’s work on environment and wildlife
The 57-year-old officer has become popular for her various environmental and wildlife protection initiatives in the state.
In 2025, she was also honoured with the UNEP ‘Champion of Earth’ award. Her work in the areas of urban heat resilience and cool roofs has been appreciated over the years. Her policy interventions, such as the Green Tamil Nadu Mission, Tamil Nadu Wetlands Mission, and a fund for endangered species conservation, have also earned her praise.
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)
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