Mumbai: Manoj Saunik, 1987 batch IAS officer and currently serving as an Additional Chief Secretary, Finance, has been appointed Maharashtra’s new Chief Secretary. Hailing from Bihar, Saunik will replace outgoing Chief Secretary Manukumar Srivastava, who retires on April 30.

As Chief Secretary, Saunik will have an eight months long tenure as he will retire in December 2023. Saunik has served as Collector of Nashik and Dhule earlier. Others in the race for the Chief Secretary’s post were Sujata Saunik and Nitin Kareer, both Additional Chief Secretaries.

The letter of Saunik’s appointment was issued by Nitin Gadre, Additional Chief Secretary (Services) in the General Administration Department (GAD). The senior IAS officer will continue to hold charge of the finance department after taking over the new Chief Secretary on April 30, according to the letter.

Post-retirement as Maharashtra’s top bureaucrat, Manukumar Srivastav will take over as the State Commissioner, Right to Services. His appointment was issued by Additional Chief Secretary (GAD) Sujata Saunik, wife of Manoj Saunik. Srivastava will hold the post of State Commissioner, Right to Services, for five years or till he attains the age of 65, whichever is earlier. /BI/