In an indicator of the growing women power, the Eknath Shinde-led MahaYuti government on Sunday appointed senior IAS officer Sujata Saunik as the first-ever lady Chief Secretary of Maharashtra.
A 1987 batch IAS officer, Sujata Saunik replaces Dr Nitin Kareer who retired from the service.
Before taking over the top bureaucratic job in the state, Sujata Saunak was the Additional Chief Secretary (General Administration Department Home Affairs).
Incidentally, Dr Kareer had taken over as Chief Secretary from Manoj Saunik, the husband of Sujata Saunik. The Saunik-couple are the first husband-wife duo in India, who have occupied the Chief Secretary’s post. Currently, Manoj Saunik is the Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister.
In another first, this is also for the first time in the history of Maharashtra that the two top civil services posts are held by women - Sujata Saunik as Chief Secretary and Rashmi Shukla as State Director General of Police.