Jiji Thomson to be Kerala chief secretary

Sports Authority of India (SAI) director general Jiji Thomson is set to become the next chief secretary of Kerala.

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has approved premature repatriation of Thomson to his cadre state Kerala, said an order issued in this regard. dna has learnt that he will leave for his home state next week to take charge.

Thomson, a 1980 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre, will take over from present incumbent, EK Bharat Bhushan, who will retire on January 31.

Thomson was appointed SAI DG in March last year, succeeding Desh Deepak Verma.

During his tenure, Thomson had run ins with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) over 2014 Asian Games contingent and initiated a mass shuffling of its coaches.

It was his efforts that saw young sprinter Dutee Chand making a comeback to athletics arena. Dutee was barred from competing in women's events due to hyperandrogenism.