On Sunday, Sujata Saunik, an IAS officer from the 1987 batch, made history by becoming the first female Chief Secretary of Maharashtra, breaking a 64-year-old tradition. She took over from Nitin Kareer in the sixth-floor office of Mantralaya and is set to retire next June. Before her appointment, Saunik served as the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the Home and General Administration departments. Her selection was approved by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, with at least six women IAS officers attending the ceremony.
Sujata Saunik: Acknowledging the Gender Milestone
In a conversation with Hindustan Times, the new Chief Secretary, who faced two instances of being overlooked for the position, acknowledged the gender significance of her appointment. “The importance of this moment isn’t lost on me,” she stated. “I want to honor all the deserving female IAS officers who missed out on this role for various reasons. I’m grateful for this opportunity and will give it my all.”
Previous Instances of Gender Bias
Earlier, qualified IAS officers like Chandra Iyengar, Chitkala Zutshi, and Medha Gadgil were passed over for the Chief Secretary role in favor of their juniors. Saunik, the senior-most IAS officer in April 2023, could have been appointed then, but CM Eknath Shinde chose her husband, Manoj Saunik, instead. She was again overlooked in January when Nitin Kareer was selected.
The Road to Chief Secretary
This year, the government assured Saunik of the position at the end of March, as Kareer’s term was nearing its end. With the Lok Sabha election code of conduct in effect, the recommendation was sent to the Election Commission of India (ECI). The state proposed Saunik, former Municipal Commissioner I S Chahal, and ACS (Revenue) Rajesh Kumar. However, Saunik’s name was initially bypassed due to her husband’s advisory role to the CM. Chahal and Kumar also missed out due to political connections. Eventually, Kareer received a three-month extension.
A Family of Bureaucrats
Saunik hails from a distinguished family of bureaucrats. Her husband, father, brother, and several aunts and uncles have all served in significant administrative roles. Her father, C D Cheema, was the Election Commissioner of Punjab, and her brother, Gautam Cheema, is an Additional DG in the Punjab police. Her aunts, Asha Atri, and Rani Jadhav, were IAS officers, with Jadhav retiring as the Chairperson of the Mumbai Port Authority. Her uncle A K D Jadhav was the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) in Maharashtra, and another uncle, Pradeep Singh, served in the Indian Foreign Service.
A Distinguished Career
Saunik’s career began as an Assistant Collector in Aurangabad, followed by roles as the Collector of Jalgaon and the Municipal Commissioner of Nashik. She also served in the central government and held foreign postings. In Mantralaya, she led departments including Health, Administrative Reforms, Skill Development, and General Administration.
Her journey to becoming Maharashtra’s first female Chief Secretary is a testament to her perseverance and dedication, marking a significant milestone in the state’s history.
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