A 1992 batch IAS officer from Manipur cadre, Dr. Vineet Joshi, was released from central deputation on May 7 amid spiraling violence in the Northeastern state to take charge as the new chief secretary and central vigilance commissioner of the state.
Dr. Joshi, who was heading the National Testing Agency (NTA) which conducts entrance exams like CUET, JEE Main and NEET, superseded three officers of his home cadre to be the administrative head of the state government. The Additional Secretary of the Department of Higher Education was repatriated to his home cadre and rushed to Imphal on a special flight on Sunday night.
His appointment orders were issued as over 23,000 people had to be rescued and taken to military rehabilitation camps. Dr. Joshi replaced Rajesh Kumar whose recent extension on the post was cut short by a request made by the N. Biren Singh government.
The clashes erupted between Meiteis (the dominant community in Imphal Valley) and the tribal communities Kukis last week following a demand by the former to be included in the Scheduled Tribe category.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (Personnel Division) of the state government, Dr. Joshi will also serve as Manipur’s Chief Vigilance Commissioner and Principal Resident Commissioner of Manipur Bhawan in New Delhi.
Dr. Joshi has been entrusted to supervise the overall law and order situation in the state besides deciding on the deployment of the Army and central paramilitary forces in Manipur, even as the central government has already imposed Article 355 in the state.
A former chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Dr. Joshi, has also served as joint secretary in the Higher Education Funding Agency (HEFA) along with other verticals in the Department of Higher Education, Union Ministry of Education.
He started his career in 1999 as a deputy secretary at Manipur’s Department of Youth Affairs and Sports. Regarded as one of the most hard-working and dedicated officers with a calm demeanor, Dr. Joshi had served as principal secretary to Chief Minister N Biren Singh. He also served as the commissioner of planning and power and resident commissioner in the Manipur government.
The officer completed his initial education at Annie Besant School and GIC, Allahabad. He has a graduation degree in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Kanpur and a post-graduate degree in Business Administration from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade.
Apart from Dr. Joshi, two other key appointments were made by the state. Retired DG of CRPF and NIA Kuldiep Singh was appointed Advisor (Security) to the Manipur government.
While IPS Ashutosh Sinha was appointed Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) as the overall operational commander to control the situation after deadly clashes broke out following a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ that was organised in 10 hill districts.
