Meet Smita Sabharwal, Telangana cadre IAS officer, who is facing strong criticism for sharing…
Senior IAS officer Smita Sabharwal, who belongs to the Telangana cadre, is facing criticism for sharing an AI-generated image. The Telangana Police has issued a notice to Sabharwal for reposting an AI-generated image related to the ongoing dispute over large-scale tree felling in the Kancha Gachibowli forest.
On March 31, Sabharwal reposted an AI-generated image, styled like a Studio Ghibli film, which had initially been shared on the social media platform X by the account “Hi Hyderabad.” The image depicted earth-moving equipment near Mushroom Rock on Kancha Gachibowli land, with a peacock and two deer observing the scene.
The Cyberabad Police took cognizance of the post and sent a notice to the IAS officer under section 179 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Notably, the post was reposted amid ongoing protests by UoH students, environmentalists and opposition parties against alleged forest destruction. On Wednesday, Sabharwal reposted a tweet that criticises Telangana government’s actions.
Telangana police have opened several investigations into the distribution of AI-generated images and videos purportedly distorting information about the University of Hyderabad land dispute. This action against Sabharwal is part of a wider effort to combat the spread of online misinformation surrounding this contentious issue.
It is to be noted that the Revanth Reddy-led Telangana government has proposed an auction of 400 acres of land, which is located in Kancha Gachibowli. The auctioning of land has been proposed for urban development. This decision of the state government has drawn widespread opposition from students and environmentalists due to ecological concerns.
Smita Sabharwal
Smita Sabharwal is a 2001 batch IAS officer from Telangana. She currently serves as the Principal Secretary for Youth Advancement, Tourism, and Culture. Previously, she was the Member Secretary of the Telangana State Finance Commission. She achieved an All India Rank of 4 in the 2000 UPSC Civil Services Examination at the age of 22.
During her career, she served in several roles, notably as District Collector in Karimnagar and Medak, overseeing projects focused on health and education.
Sabharwal’s career is marked by her innovative use of technology in public administration. This includes employing tools like Skype to oversee government doctors and specialized software to track the performance of government schools. Her achievements have been recognized with awards such as the 2015 Indian Express Devi Award for Innovation and Dynamism.
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