TSR Subramanian, former cabinet secretary and author of “Journeys Through Babudom and Netaland” dies, aged 79

The book written by TSR Subramanian

Thirumanilaiyur Sitapati Ramana Subramanian is no more. Popularly known as TSR Subramanian, this 1961 batch former Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS who had served as India’s cabinet secretary in 1996-98, died today, aged 79. Here are the 10 things you would like to know about TSR:

1. Subramanian was born in 1938 at Thanjavur in the then Madras Presidency, now Tamil Nadu. 

2. A masters degree holder in mathematics from the Calcutta University, Subramanian later studied at the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, and then completed another degree in public administration from Harvard University.

3. He is a 1961 batch IAS from Uttar Pradesh cadre who became union textile secretary and then cabinet secretary -- the highest post in Indian bureaucracy. 

4. In 1979-1984, he was a joint secretary in the union ministry of commerce and industry. 

5. He was also the chief secretary of Uttar Pradesh between 1992 and 1994.

6. Subramanian was India’s cabinet secretariat between August 1, 1996 and March 31, 1998, and in that process, got a chance to work under three Prime Ministers of India — HD Deve Gowda, Inder Kumar Gujral and Atal Bihari Vajpayee though for very short periods. 

7. Post retirement, he was staying in his Noida residence and actively participated in TV debates on issues concerning civil service, politics and administration.

8. Subramanian has a major role in the Supreme Court giving a landmark verdict in 2013, saying that the civil servants were not forced to act upon oral instructions of their political bosses, except in certain exceptional circumstances. The apex court also directed the Centre and state governments to pass orders on giving fixed tenure to civil servants. Subramanian and 82 former bureaucrats were signatories that famous petition.

9. He also served as the Chancellor of Shiv Nadar University.

10. He is the author of “Journeys Through Babudom and Netaland”, an insightful take on the functioning of the administrative system and judiciary.