The Chief Secretary of Mizoram is the top-most executive official and senior-most civil servant of the State of Mizoram in India. The Chief Secretary is the ex-officio head of the state Civil Services Board, the State Secretariat, the state cadre Indian Administrative Service and all civil services under the rules of business of the state government. The Chief Secretary acts as an ex-officio secretary to the state cabinet, therefore called "Secretary to the Cabinet". The Chief Secretary acts as the principal advisor to the chief minister on all matters of state administration.

The Chief Secretary is chosen by the state's Chief Minister. State Chief Secretaries are IAS officers generally equivalent in rank to a Secretary to Government of India and are placed 23rd on Indian Order of Precedence.

History

The present area of Mizoram was annexed by the British Empire after the Chin-Lushai Expedition of 1889–90. The North Lushai hills were administered by a political officer stationed at Fort Aijal under the Assam Government. The South Lushai Hills were under the administration of a political officer stationed at Fort Treager. This political officer reported to the commissioner of Chittagong who was under the Bengal Government.

In 1898, the two districts were merged into the Lushai Hills District which was administered by a Superintendent. It was regarded as an Excluded Area, beyond the Inner Line, which meant that the laws and regulations of the province did not apply, and the people from the plains could not access it without a permit. Even as self-government was gradually implemented in British India through Government of India Act 1919 & 1935, the district was placed outside the purview of these acts. The Superintendent remained the sole authority of the District.

After independence, the district became an autonomous district under the Sixth Schedule. After the Mizo Uprising, the Mizo District became the Union Territory of Mizoram in 1972. Hence, R.M. Aggarwal was appointed as the first Chief Secretary of Mizoram.

During the Mizoram Insurgency in 1975, following the assassination of Inspector General of Police G.S. Arya along with two other senior police officers by MNF insurgents,https://www.police.gov.in/martyr-indian-police/gs-arya the centre enforced a countermeasure policy wherein an army officer, Brig. G.S. Randhawa was appointed as Inspector General of Police. Additionally, the incumbent Chief Secretary, R.M. Aggarwal, was replaced with the serving Inspector General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Surendra Nath. This event marked the first and only instance wherein an Indian Police Service officer was appointed to the post of Chief Secretary in India.

Chief secretaries Source:

NameTook officeLeft office1R.M. Agrawal, IAS16 January 197217 March 19752Surendra Nath, IPS18 March 19753 December 19783A.J. Kundan, IAS4 December 19788 September 19814A.H. Scott, IFAS 9 September 198115 July 19845Lalkhama, IAS 16 July 198414 July 19876Rohmingthanga, IAS 11 August 198713 September 19887Lalkhama, IAS 14 September 198820 September 19898Lalmanzuala, IAS 3 October 198923 August 19909F. Pahnuna, IAS 23 August 199021 August 199310Lalfak Zuala, IAS21 August 19932 December 199811Haukhum Hauzel, IAS3 December 199831 January 199912H.V. Lalringa, IAS 1 February 199931 July 200513Haukhum Hauzel, IAS 1 August 200520 January 200914Vanhela Pachuau, IAS20 January 2009 31 August 201215L Tochhawng, IAS31 August 20121 November 201416Lalmalsawma, IAS1 November 201428 February 201817Arvind Ray, IAS2018201918Lalnunmawia Chuaungo, IAS12 March 201931 October 202119Renu Sharma, IAS2 November 20212 November 202420Khilli Ram Meena, IAS28 November 2024Incumbent

See also British rule in the Lushai Hills Chief secretary (India) Indian Administrative Service

References