The central government has recently granted approval to a Hyderabad-based Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, M Anukathir Surya, to change his name from M Anasuya and his gender from female to male.
Anukathir Surya, who is currently serving as a Joint Commissioner in the office of the Chief Commissioner of the Customs Excise & Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) in Hyderabad, had submitted a request to the Ministry of Finance for the change. This is a significant decision as it marks the first time in the history of the Indian civil services that such a request has been granted. Anukathir Surya started his career as an Assistant Commissioner in Chennai and was later promoted to Deputy Commissioner in 2018.
In 2023, he joined CESTAT in Hyderabad and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication from Madras Institute of Technology. He also completed a PG Diploma in Cyber Law and Cyber Forensics from National Law Institute University in Bhopal. With this change, Anukathir Surya will now be recognized as “Mr M Anukathir Surya” in all official records.
This decision is a positive step towards inclusivity and acceptance in the Indian civil services.
