Senior IAS officer and former Additional Chief Secretary PH Kurian 67) passed away at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. He was undergoing treatment for cancer.
His body will be taken to his house in Muttada, Thiruvananthapuram on Friday morning. Later that evening, his body will be taken to his house in Pullukottama, South Pampady. The funeral will be held at St. Thomas Orthodox Church, South Pampady at 11 am on Saturday.
Born on January 20, 1959, in an ordinary farming family in Kottayam, Kurien obtained his master's degree in chemistry from the University of Kerala and was appointed IAS while doing research at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. His first appointment was in the Odisha cadre in the 1986 batch. He was transferred to the Kerala cadre in 1993.
Kurien has held several important positions in the administration. In his official career, he has served as Principal Secretary in the Revenue, Industries and IT departments
Kurian's career was exemplary
He served as Sub-Collector in Palakkad and Pala and as Collector in Kottayam and Idukki districts. After attaining the rank of Secretary, he held the charge of departments such as Industries, IT, Construction and Ports in addition to Revenue. He has held the positions of Executive Vice President of Science and Technology Department, Additional Chief Secretary of Housing Department, Secretary of Science & Technology Department, MD of Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation, Principal Secretary of Industries Department, Secretary of Information Technology Department, Managing Director of Industries Department, Special Secretary in Revenue Department, Primary Education Project Director, Labour Commissioner of Employment Department, Under-Secretary of UNICEF, Secretary of Board of Revenue.
At the national level, Kurian served as Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks. His tenure is particularly associated with the landmark 2012 decision granting a compulsory licence for Bayer's cancer drug Nexavar to Natco Pharma. The decision attracted national and international attention because it addressed the balance between patent protection and access to affordable medicines and became an important reference point in India's intellectual-property policy.
As the Revenue and Disaster Management Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary, he played a crucial role in coordinating the 2018 flood relief efforts. He was also responsible for finding land in Cheruvally Estate for the Sabarimala Airport.
Alok Mathur is a law graduate. Journalism is his first love which he now pursues in the latter half of his career. Controversies and crime are the right triggers for him.
