The Hindu Business Line : Lakshmi Pranesh made TN Chief Secy

MS Lakshmi Pranesh, an IAS officer belonging to the 1968 batch, is the new Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu. She replaces Mr Sukavaneshvar, who has been posted as the Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Small Industries Development Corporation Ltd.

The 57-year-old Ms Pranesh is the first woman to occupy the post of Chief Secretary in the State. Rumours about a change in chief secretary had been doing the rounds in the Secretariat for some time now.

Mr Sukavaneshvar was appointed Chief Secretary on June 10, 2002 in a large-scale reshuffle of IAS officers. He replaced Mr P. Shankar, who was brought in as Chief Secretary from his earlier posting as Union Petroleum Secretary. Mr Shankar subsequently went as the Secretary to the Union Planning Commission and later became the Chief Vigilance Commissioner. Ms Pranesh will be the fourth chief secretary since the AIADMK returned to power in May 2001. Mr A.P. Muthuswamy, who was then the chief secretary and had just a couple of weeks to retire, was allowed to retire as Chief Secretary.

He was succeeded by Mr Shankar, who was replaced in the reshuffle in June last. Ms Pranesh was till now the Principal Secretary, Cooperation, Food and Consumer Protection Department.

Along with the change in chief secretary, the secretaries to some government departments were also changed. Mr S.P. Elangovan, till now the Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Small Industries Development Corporation, will take over as Secretary, Environment and Forests Department, replacing Mr S. Ramakrishnan, who now becomes Secretary, Cooperation, Food and Consumer Protection Department, in the place of Ms Lakshmi Pranesh.

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Lakshmi Pranesh made TN Chief Secy