Snehalata Shrivastava is first woman secretary general of Lok Sabha

Retired IAS officer Snehalata Shrivastava has been appointed as the secretary general of the Lok Sabha, the first woman to hold the post.

Snehalata, a 1982-batch Madhya Pradesh cadre officer, will succeed incumbent Anoop Mishra, who will relinquish the post on November 30.

"Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has appointed Snehalata Shrivastava as the secretary general of the Lok Sabha and the Lok Sabha secretariat," an official statement said.

Snehalata, who till recently was the secretary (justice) in the law ministry, will assume office on December 1 and hold office until November 30, 2018.

The appointment comes days before the winter session of Parliament commences on December 15.

The secretary general of the Lok Sabha enjoys the rank and status of the Cabinet secretary.

V S Rama Devi holds the distinction of being the first woman secretary general of the Rajya Sabha. She held office from July 1, 1993, to July 25, 1997.