Chandigarh, March 11 (IANS) In its first major administrative reshuffle, the Parkash Singh Badal government Sunday transferred 27 bureaucrats, including eight deputy commissioners.

It also appointed former Punjab Agricultural University professor, Harcharn Bains, as chief minister's media adviser in the rank of minister of state.

Financial commissioner - excise and taxation, Mukul Joshi was has been given the insignificant post of principal secretary for freedom fighters. S.S. Brar, the joint secretary in the central health ministry, has replaced Joshi.

Darbara Singh Guru has been named as principal secretary to the chief minister replacing Suresh Kumar who becomes secretary power.

Dharamvir has been posted as secretary revenue.

The deputy commissioners of Ludhiana, Patiala, Kapurthala, Barnala, Muktsar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Moga and Mansa have also been replaced.