IAS Officer Smita Sabharwal Transferred After AI-Generated Image Controversy
Hyderabad, 28th April 2025: Telangana cadre IAS officer Smita Sabharwal has been transferred to the state finance commission as member secretary following controversy over resharing an AI-generated image related to an environmental protest. The transfer, part of a broader bureaucratic reshuffle affecting 20 officers, comes weeks after police issued her a notice for allegedly spreading misinformation through the post.
Key Details
Smita Sabharwal, currently serving as principal secretary for Youth Advancement, Tourism & Culture (YAT&C), was reassigned to her previous role in the finance commission. The move follows her 31st March social media post featuring an AI-generated Ghibli-style image depicting a bulldozer advancing toward a peacock and deer, symbolizing concerns over Hyderabad University’s proposed 400-acre IT park in Kāncha Gāchibowli.
Controversy and Legal Context
The Supreme Court has halted construction on the disputed site, which faces opposition from students and environmentalists. Sabharwal’s post, reshared over 2,000 times, drew police scrutiny under allegations of disseminating misleading content. She defended her stance, questioning whether authorities would act against all users who reshared the image.
Career Trajectory
A 2000-batch UPSC topper (All India Rank 4), Sabharwal previously served as secretary to the chief minister during the BRS regime. After the Congress formed the government in 2023, she was moved to the finance commission before her November 2024 appointment to YAT&C. Her recent tweet confirming her new role included a commitment to “do my best” in advancing youth and tourism initiatives.
Official Response and Implications
While the transfer order cites routine administrative grounds, sources link it to escalating tensions over the Hyderabad University project. The case highlights growing debates about AI-generated content’s role in policy discourse and the legal risks of social media engagement for public officials.
Environmental Concerns
Protestors argue the IT park threatens biodiversity near the university, a claim underscored by Sabharwal’s symbolic post. The Supreme Court’s interim stay remains in effect pending further hearings.
