Atul Kumar is new U P chief secretary

Lucknow, May 23 (UNI) The Uttar Pradesh government today appointed 1974 batch IAS officer Atul Kumar Gupta as the new chief secretary of the state.

Mr Gupta, till now the Industrial development Commissioner (IDC) of UP, has taken over the reins of the top bureaucratic post from Mr P K Mishra, whose plea for Voluntary Retirement was accepted by the Government.

Mr Mishra, 1972 batch IAS officer of the state, was due to retire on August 31 next but asked for VRS. He, in fact was called from the Central deputation to take charge of UP's Chief Secretary post on June 24 last year, about a month after Ms Mayawati was sworn-in as the chief minister for the fourth time.

Atul Kumar Gupta, earlier, had held several important posts as Principal Secretary, Housing, Urban Development besides being District magistrate of several districts.

The order for his appointment was issued this evening immediately after the VRS of his predecessor was accepted, an official spokesman said.

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