GUWAHATI, Oct 31 ? S Kabilan today became the 40th Chief Secretary of Assam after taking over from JP Rajkhowa who retired today on attaining superannuation. Kabilan took charge from Rajkhowa in a brief ceremony at the Janata Bhawan here that was attended by senior officials of the state including the state DGP.
An officer of the 1972 batch of the IAS, and belonging to the Assam-Meghalaya joint cadre, Kabilan brings with him vast experience in various fields. He was the Additional Chief Secretary in the state before taking up his latest assignment.
A graduate in mechanical engineering from IIT, Madras, Kabilan went on to complete his post-graduation in the same subject from Canada. Prior to joining the IAS, he worked with the National Aeronautical Laboratory, Bangalore. Kabilan started his career in the civil service as SDO (Civil) in Meghalaya?s Garo Hills from 1974-75. He was a deputy secretary in Meghalaya from 1975 to 1977.
In Assam, he was Nagaon DC during 1981-82 and Commissioner and Secretary in the Finance Department from 1986 to 1991. He served the Government of India as Financial Advisor from 1995 to 2000. Kabilan also spent many years in Tamil Nadu with tenures there from 1983-86, 1991-94 and 2000-03.