Mumbai: Sujata Saunik Appointed Maharashtra’s First Woman Chief Secretary After Multiple Overlooks
Mumbai, 1st July 2024: After being passed over twice, Sujata Saunik has become Maharashtra’s first woman chief secretary, making history alongside Rashmi Shukla, who heads the state’s police force as DGP. Sujata Saunik, a senior IAS officer from the 1987 batch, takes over from Nitin Kareer, who retired on Sunday and is set to retire on June 30 next year.
When Manukumar Srivastava, an IAS officer from the 1986 batch, retired as chief secretary in March 2023, Sujata Saunik was anticipated to succeed him due to her seniority. However, her husband, Manoj Saunik, was appointed instead.
Following Manoj Saunik’s retirement on December 31, 2023, speculation about Sujata Saunik’s appointment intensified. Yet again, she was overlooked in favour of Kareer, a 1988 IAS batch officer, despite his impending retirement in three months. Kareer, known for his close relations with chief ministers across political lines, received a three-month extension due to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, causing Sujata Saunik to miss the opportunity once more.
As Sujata Saunik’s appointment seemed imminent, names of other bureaucrats, additional chief secretary Iqbal Singh Chahal and Rajesh Kumar, were considered. Ultimately, Chief Minister Shinde emphasized that seniority would be the key criterion for the appointment, leading to Sujata Saunik’s historic elevation to the role.
