Known for her action against illegal resorts in the elephant corridor in the Masinagudi-Sigur region, J. Innocent Divya, a 2009-batch IAS officer, has been appointed Secretary of the School Education Department as part of the Tamil Nadu government’s latest IAS reshuffle.
Coimbatore: In a major administrative reshuffle, the Tamil Nadu government transferred 27 IAS officers on September 8, 2026, appointing former Nilgiris District Collector J. Innocent Divya as Secretary of the School Education Department.
Prior to her latest appointment, Ms. Divya was serving as the Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Handloom Weavers’ Cooperative Society (Co-optex), a post she took over in June 2026 following her return from leave.
She was earlier appointed Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation (TNSDC) in Chennai in December 2021, following her transfer from the Nilgiris, where she had served as District Collector from 2017 to 2021.
Her tenure as Nilgiris Collector had drawn significant attention, particularly for her action against illegal resorts operating in the ecologically sensitive elephant corridor in the Masinagudi-Sigur region near the Mudumalai National Park. A report submitted by her on establishments operating in the corridor led to subsequent action, including the closure of around 37 resorts.
Her work on the issue made her a familiar administrative figure in the Nilgiris and neighbouring Coimbatore region, where the protection of elephant corridors and other ecologically sensitive areas remains a significant concern.
Ms. Divya has now been appointed Secretary of the School Education Department as part of the latest IAS reshuffle.
Prior to her latest appointment, Ms. Divya was serving as the Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Handloom Weavers’ Cooperative Society (Co-optex), a post she took over in June 2026 following her return from leave.
She was earlier appointed Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation (TNSDC) in Chennai in December 2021, following her transfer from the Nilgiris, where she had served as District Collector from 2017 to 2021.
Her tenure as Nilgiris Collector had drawn significant attention, particularly for her action against illegal resorts operating in the ecologically sensitive elephant corridor in the Masinagudi-Sigur region near the Mudumalai National Park. A report submitted by her on establishments operating in the corridor led to subsequent action, including the closure of around 37 resorts.
Her work on the issue made her a familiar administrative figure in the Nilgiris and neighbouring Coimbatore region, where the protection of elephant corridors and other ecologically sensitive areas remains a significant concern.
Ms. Divya has now been appointed Secretary of the School Education Department as part of the latest IAS reshuffle.