Kozhikode Corporation to get IAS officer Mrunmai Joshi as administrative head

KOZHIKODE: The state cabinet decision to appoint 2013 cadre IAS officer Mrunmai Joshi as the new secretary of Kozhikode Municipal Corporation is creating another history in the 54 year-old civic body. According to the corporation records, it is after a gap of 41 years that the civic body gets an Indian Administrative Service officer to head the office administration wing. Ms Mrunmai Joshi, presently Kanhangad sub-collector, is expected to assume the office by early next month. The 26-year old Kerala cadre officer will probably be the youngest secretary of the corporation.

Of the 66 former secretaries in the corporation, only six officers belonged to the IAS cadre. All past IAS officers assumed the office in a stretch of six years from June, 1969 to May, 1975. The first IAS secretary of Kozhikode corporation was S. Varadachary, who served from June, 1969 to August, 1970 and later became the adviser of the Planning Commission. The decision to appoint IAS officer at the helm was made after long pending demands from the ruling CPM. "We have been asking the state government for an IAS officer as secretary.

Though Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi Corporations consistently get IAS officers as secretary, Kozhikode never got one for a long time. We hope that the appointment can bring more professionalism in service to the people and make the corporation staff to feel more responsible," said mayor Thottathil Raveendran. "I have heard a lot about Kozhikode city, and I am looking forward to arriving. Since I have not received any order about the posting, it wouldn't be apt to comment about it at this moment," reacted Ms Joshi, who hails from Maharashtra. Present corporation secretary T.P. Satheesan will retire on November 30.