Thaindian News

New Delhi, May 24 (IANS) Known as one of the most punctilious bureacrats in India, Ajit Kumar Seth, who strictly follows the rules, would be the next cabinet secretary after incumbent K.M. Chandrasekar retires next month.

Seth, a 1974-batch Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer from Uttar Pradesh cadre, was cleared for the top bureaucratic post by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, an official statement said Tuesday.

“The prime minister has approved the appointment of Shri Ajit Kumar Seth, IAS, as the next Cabinet Secretary with effect from June 14, 2011,” said a pressnote issued by the ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions.

Seth, currently secretary, public grievances and coordination, will serve as Officer on Special Duty in the cabinet secretariat till June 13 when Chandrashekhar, who has been the incumbent since 2007, retires. Chandrashekhar has already got three extensions in his tenure.

The cabinet secretary has a fixed two-year term.

Seth has been on the current post since January 2009.

Born Nov 24, 1951, Seth has done is Master’s in chemistry from St. Stephen’s College in New Delhi and M.Phil in Life Sciences from the Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Seth has served in various key positions in Uttar Pradesh government before coming to the centre on deputation. For five years, he was joint secretary in the ministry of textiles.

Earlier in the 1980s, he served in the commerce ministry and was first secretary for over three years in the permanent mission of India to the United Nations at Geneva.