Former DGP R Nataraj will be the new Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission. A Government Order issued by the State government on Friday said Nataraj can hold office till he attains the age of 62 years.

Nataraj’s appointment follows the resignation of K Sellamuthu, former chairman of TNPSC. Recently, DVAC raided the residences of Sellamuthu and TNPSC members for alleged corruption in the recruitment process. Nataraj was in the headlines last year when he filed a petition seeking quashing of the appointement of Letika Saran as the State police chief citing that he was assigned rank No.1 by the UPSC-assigned panel on November 10, 2010.

Nataraj had served as Commissioner of Police, Chennai from November 2003 to April 2006 and also served as the Additional Director General of Police in the State Human Rights Commission, Economic Offences Wing. He also served as the ADGP of Prisons and promoted as Director General of Prisons where he initiated innovative schemes in correctional administration and finally he had headed the Fire and rescue services department from June 12, 2009 and retired from service on March 31, 2011.

Nataraj was posted as Additional Director General of Police, Special Task Force, in December 2001 to nab forest brigand Veerappan and his gang.

Born in March 1951, Nataraj joined the police service in 1975. He served as First Secretary in the Embassy of India, Kathmandu in 1986, where he coordinated several security related issues.

He served as Deputy Inspector General of Police, CRPF, in 1994 and supervised the operations of CRPF troops deployed in terrorists affected areas in Jammu & Kashmir and in North East India. Nataraj holds a Master’s Degree in Physics and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and degree in law and currently he is doing his Ph.D. in Madras University.

Nataraj received President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 1993, President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 1999, STF Gallantry Medal in 2004.