Former Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and IT Secretary M Sivasankar has been subjected to disciplinary action over controversies unprecedented in the history of the civil service. The state’s most senior IAS officer has stepped down from the chair of the most powerful official in the chief minister’s office, who has been tough on word and deed through the gold smuggling controversy.
Shivashankar, who secured the second rank in the SSLC examination, also obtained a degree in Engineering Business Administration with excellent marks. He did his B.Tech at NSS Engineering College, Palakkad. Sivashankar, a fiery leader of the SFI, was also elected chairman of the college union. B. After Tech, he obtained his PG Diploma in Rural Management from Irma, Gujarat.
His first job was with the Reserve Bank. He later appeared for the PSC examination and became the Deputy Collector of the Kerala Revenue Service. While in service, he joined the civil service in 1995 on the recommendation of the state government. In 2000, the IAS issued a stabilizing order. He then worked as a collector in Malappuram. He has also served as Director of Tourism, Director of Public Education, Secretary, and Maintenance Secretary. When Shivshankar was the chairman of the Electricity Board, he took an important decision to end the power cut in the state.
Shivshankar was the Sports Secretary during the National Games in the state. Shivshankar was brought to the office of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as a leftist and a good official. Apart from the IT secretary, Shivashankar also sought the chair of the Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary. Shivshankar was behind all the crucial decisions of the state government. Sivasankara was behind the decision to bring C-DIT under the IT department and to form Rebuild Kerala for post-flood activities. The controversy over the gold smuggling case turned everything upside down. Shivshankar, who was in service till January 31, 2023, was removed from office.
