Imphal, 21 July (HS): Manipur has entered a new phase of administrative leadership with Puneet Kumar Goel formally taking charge as the state’s Chief Secretary on Monday. He steps into the role following the tenure of Prashant Kumar Singh, marking a notable shift at the top of the bureaucratic hierarchy.

The changeover took place at the Old Secretariat in Imphal, where senior officials gathered for the brief but symbolic handover ceremony. Commissioner (Home) Ashok Kumar led the reception for Goel, who reached the state capital a day prior.

Goel, a 1991-batch IAS officer from the AGMUT cadre, was appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on July 16. His appointment comes during a period of immense socio-political tension in the state.

In a statement, the Manipur government highlighted the significance of this transition, acknowledging the dedicated service of the outgoing Chief Secretary and extending a warm welcome to Goel. Several departmental heads were present at the ceremony and expressed confidence in Goel’s leadership during these challenging times.

The new Chief Secretary takes charge at a time when Manipur is grappling with deep ethnic unrest between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, which began in May 2023.

Given the volatile ground realities, observers see Goel's role as crucial—not just in managing day-to-day affairs, but also in rebuilding trust, enforcing law and order, and steering long-term reconciliation processes in the violence-hit state.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash