Vishwas Mehta is new Chief Secretary

The Cabinet on Wednesday decided to appoint Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Viswas Mehta as Chief Secretary when incumbent Tom Jose retires on May 31.

Mr. Mehta, an IAS officer of the 1987 batch, started his tenure as Kollam Assistant Collector in June 1983 and continued in the post till June 1988. Subsequently he served as Assistant Collector in Wayanad.

Mr. Mehta took over as Deputy Secretary in the Revenue Department in 1991 and in 1992 he became Managing Director of the Kerala State Cooperative Rubber Marketing Federation. He had also served as District Collector of Idukki and Wayanad and as Managing Director of Milma.

Mr. Mehta had also officiated as Health Secretary, Educational Principal Secretary, Revenue Principal Secretary, Revenue Additional Chief Secretary, among others.

New DGPs

The Cabinet elevated Additional Directors General of Police Sankar Reddy and R. Sreelekha to the post of Director Generals of Police.

The government has posted Ms. Sreelekha, the first woman IPS officer in the State, as Director General, Fire and Rescue Services. Ms. Sreelekha, belonging to the 1987 batch, is the first woman officer to be elevated as a DGP. She is due for retirement in December.

Mr. Reddy has been posted as Road Safety Commissioner. ADGP M.R. Ajithkumar will be appointed Transport Commissioner.