Who is IAS officer Sujata Saunik, Maharashtra’s first woman chief secretary

Sujata Saunik, a senior IAS officer, has taken over as the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra. She is the first woman to occupy the post in the state’s 64-year history.

Sujata succeeded Nitin Kareer, who retired as the chief secretary on Sunday. She will serve the post until before her retirement in June next year, an official said.

On Sunday evening, a ceremony was organised at Mantralaya — the state secretariat in south Mumbai — where Kareer handed over the charge to Sujata.

Along with Sujata, additional chief secretary from the revenue department Rajesh Kumari, as well as additional chief secretary to the Chief Minister Iqbal Chahal, were the other two front runners for the Chief Secretary post, IANS reported.

Who is Sujata Saunik?

Sujata is an IAS officer of the 1987 batch. Her husband, Manoj Saunik, is also a former state chief secretary.

Before her elevation to the post of Chief Secretary, she held the post of additional chief secretary in the state home department.

Sujata, popular as a strict officer, was recently elevated to the Secretary rank by Maharashtra’s Department of Personnel and Training.

Earlier, she also held the post of additional chief secretary in the state’s General Administration Department as well as in a couple of other departments including public health.

She has spent three decades in public policy and governance in healthcare, finance, education, disaster management, and peacekeeping at the district, state, and federal levels.

Despite being senior in the 1987 batch, the state government earlier appointed her husband Manoj Saunik, as the Chief Secretary during April-December 2023. He also comes from the same batch, IANS reported.

At present, Manoj Saunik is working as the Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister.

Post her husband’s retirement, the government did not consider Sujata Saunik for the post again and picked up her junior from the 1988 batch — Nitin Kareer.

Kareer was appointed on December 31 last year. While he was supposed to retire in March earlier this year, a three-month extension was given to him in the wake of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.