The Gujarat Government has announced a new round of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) transfers, appointing new district collectors in Jamnagar, Surendranagar, and Gandhinagar. The reshuffle is part of ongoing administrative restructuring aimed at strengthening district governance and ensuring smooth functioning of state administration.
New Collector Appointments
Jamnagar:
P.B. Pandya, currently serving as District Development Officer in Amreli, has been appointed Collector of Jamnagar.
He will assume charge on March 31, succeeding K.B. Thakkar, who retires the same day.
Surendranagar:
G.H. Solanki, Municipal Commissioner of Nadiad, has been posted as Collector of Surendranagar.
He replaces K.S. Yagnik, who had been holding additional charge following the removal of the previous collector amid a corruption probe.
Gandhinagar:
Ravindra Khatale, Municipal Commissioner of Mehsana, has been appointed Collector of Gandhinagar.
He takes over from J.N. Vaghela, who was serving in an additional charge capacity.
Background: Surendranagar Collectorate Under Scrutiny
The Surendranagar Collectorate has been under close examination in recent months. Former collector Rajendra Patel was removed after Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids and a case registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
Patel was arrested in January 2026 in connection with an alleged bribery-linked money laundering case involving land-use change permissions. A court recently denied him bail, citing prima facie evidence. Investigators allege a systematic collection of illegal gratification for clearing applications, pointing to a wider pattern of corruption within the collector’s office.
Context: Earlier Bureaucratic Reshuffles in Gujarat
This latest reshuffle follows earlier rounds of transfers:
June 2025: 13 IAS officers were transferred across departments and districts.
Later in 2025: Around 26 officers were reshuffled, linked to vacancies, promotions, and disciplinary actions.
Such periodic reshuffles are intended to maintain administrative efficiency, accountability, and transparency across Gujarat’s bureaucracy.
