ITANAGAR: President Droupadi Murmu has appointed former Manipur chief secretary, J Suresh Babu, as the Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) – the only central university located in Arunachal Pradesh.
As per a statement issued by the university on Thursday, Babu will assume his responsibilities with immediate effect, serving a term of five years.
The university community expressed optimism about the appointment. RGU’s Registrar, Dr. N T Rikam, extended a warm welcome to the new chancellor. In the statement, Dr. Rikam praised the ministry’s decision, highlighting that Rajiv Gandhi University had been without a chancellor since 2018. The appointment of someone with Babu’s extensive administrative experience is seen as a positive step for the university’s future endeavours.
A former civil servant with a distinguished career, Babu graduated with an MBBS degree from Guntur Medical College and went on to acquire an MS from PGI-Chandigarh. After rendering 34 years of commendable service in the Indian Administrative Service, he retired from his role as the chief secretary of Manipur.
Over the course of his illustrious career, Babu has gained multifaceted experience across several crucial sectors. These include urban development, tobacco management, district administration, education, health, finance, and notably, COVID-19 management.
His tenure in public service witnessed Babu handling pivotal roles not just in Manipur but also in Andhra Pradesh. In addition to his role as the chief secretary, he served in numerous significant capacities such as the additional chief secretary, principal secretary, commissioner, secretary, and director of various directorates in Manipur. He also performed duties as the collector and district magistrate, among other roles.
