Ritu Maheshwari is an Indian civil servant. She is a 2003-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre. In 2023, she was appointed as the Divisional Commissioner of Agra.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Ritu Maheshwari was born on Friday, 14 July 1978 (age 45 years; as of 2023) in Punjab, India. Her zodiac sign is Cancer. She did B.E. in electrical engineering at Punjab Engineering College (PEC), Chandigarh. Later, she pursued an MBA in executive development at Amity University, Punjab.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 5″
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Light Brown
Family
Parents & Siblings
Her father is a businessman.
Wife & Children
She is married to Mayur Maheshwari, who is an IAS officer of the 2003 batch. The couple has two children.
Ritu Maheshwari with Mayur Maheshwari after voting
Career
In February 2005, she received her first posting as a joint magistrate and collector on a junior scale in Lucknow. In July 2005, she was appointed as a joint magistrate and collector in Allahabad during which she took care of land revenue management and district administration. In June 2007, she held the position of district collector in Ghazipur. She was appointed as an additional commissioner in Meerut in 2008 before she became the district magistrate and collector of Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, in 2009. In May 2010, she held the position of vice chairman of the Hapur Pilakhuwa Development Authority in Ghaziabad. After she came back from her maternity leave, she became the managing director of KESCo (Kanpur Electricity Supply Company) in Kanpur Nagar. While working at KESCo, she initiated a dedicated drive to catch power thieves, fix tampered meters, and encourage consumers to pay their bills on time. According to the data on the power ministry’s website, losses at KESCO decreased to 15.6 per cent, which was half of the loss levels observed in 2015 and helped Kanpur in saving thousands of crores. [1]The Better India
Ritu Maheshwari during an event as the managing director of KESCo
She was appointed to the position of district magistrate and collector in Pilibhit (2012), Sambhal (2012), and Shahjahanpur (2013). In 2013, she attended a mid-career training programme under which she studied personnel and general administration. In February 2013, she became the director (admin) of the Uttar Pradesh Medical and Health Service in Lucknow. In October 2013, she began to serve as the special secretary to the Food & Civil Supplies Department and the additional commissioner of Food & Civil Supplies of the U.P. Government. In May 2015, she was appointed as special secretary to the Government of U.P. Medical, Health & Family Welfare Department and director of Medical & Health Services. She began to work as general manager (HR) for GOI and Rural Electrification Corporation Limited in New Delhi in October 2015. In July 2017, she became the vice chairman of the Agra Development Authority. She was appointed as DM, collector, and vice chairman of the Ghaziabad Development Authority in October 2017. In 2019, she became the CEO of Noida and Greater Noida, and MD of Noida Metro Rail Corporation.
Ritu Maheshwari at her office in Noida
In July 2023, Lokesh M, a 2005-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, replaced Ritu Maheshwari as the CEO of the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA). On 19 July 2023, she was appointed as the divisional commissioner of Agra replacing Amit Gupta, a 2000-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre.
Controversies
Non-bailable Warrant
In May 2022, the Allahabad High Court issued a non-bailable warrant against Ritu Maheshwari because she did not appear in court for a case concerning contempt of court related to land acquisition. The court instructed the police to bring her before the court in the coming week. On 5 May 2022, Justice Saral Srivastava issued the order in response to a contempt plea filed by Manorama Kuchhal and another person whose land was acquired by the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA) in 1990. They said that they did not receive fair compensation. On 28 April 2022, the court scheduled the matter to be heard on 4 May 2022, and Ritu was instructed to be present; however, despite receiving the summons, she did not appear during the hearing. The Court observed,
Considering the fact that the order of Writ Court has not been complied with despite the fact that the possession of the land of the applicants had been taken over by the NOIDA illegally in the year 1990 without paying even a single penny as compensation. When the Court summoned the CEO, NOIDA in a contempt proceeding, she did not appear before the Court, when the matter was taken up which led her counsel to request the Court not to take up the matter till she reaches the Court as her flight is delayed, this Court finds that such conduct of CEO, NOIDA amounts to deliberate and willful disrespect to the Court, as the Officer of the rank of Chief Executive Officer of a Corporation expected the Court to take up the matter at her mercy, therefore, this Court finds it to be a fit case where non-bailable warrant be issued against the CEO, NOIDA.” [2]Zee News
Sentenced to Jail
In January 2023, Ritu Maheshwari was sentenced to one month in jail following the issuance of an arrest warrant against her by the District Consumer Forum. The case stemmed from a dispute between a plot allottee, identified as Mahesh Mitra, and the Greater Noida Development Authority (GNIDA). The case dated back to 2001 when Mahesh Mitra applied for the allotment of a plot of land. However, as the GNIDA did not allocate the land to him, he filed a case in the District Consumer Forum in 2005. After a legal process, the court delivered its judgment in December 2006, directing the GNIDA to allot a plot of land measuring between 1000 to 2500 square meters to Mahesh Mitra. Additionally, the Forum ordered the GNIDA to cover the entire legal expenses related to the matter. Unsatisfied with the judgment, the GNIDA appealed the decision to the State Consumer Commission, which ruled in favour of the Development Authority. In response, Mahesh Mitra further approached the National Consumer Commission to challenge the State Consumer Commission’s ruling. Eventually, the National Consumer Commission issued a verdict in favour of Mahesh Mitra. However, despite the National Consumer Commission’s ruling, the orders were not executed by the GNIDA. Consequently, an arrest warrant was issued against Ritu Maheshwari, who held a prominent position within the body, as the responsible party for not complying with the commission’s orders. As a result, she was sentenced to one month in jail in January 2023. [3]DNA
Awards, Honours, Achievements
- 2011: State e-Governance Award 2009-10 for Communications & Information Technology by IT & Electronics department
- 2012: National Award for e-governance 2010-11 for Health & Family Welfare by the Department of Administrative Reforms
- 2012: UN Public Service Delivery Award for Public Administration by United Nations, New York (USA)
- 2018: Patent Award for the project in the health sector ‘Aarogyam’ at National Intellectual Property Awards
Feel happy to share that We received Patent award today from Honorable Commerce Minister , GOI, for our patent in health sector- Aarogyam..Patent rights already handed over to GOI..@mayurias pic.twitter.com/eb6i6TBhh5
— Ritu maheshwari (@rituias2003) April 26, 2018
- 2018: National Intellectual Property Award for Health & Family Welfare by the Ministry of Commerce
- 2018: Fastest Moving City (Noida) for Municipal Administration by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
- 2018: Open Defecation Free (ODF) (Noida) for Municipal Administration by Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban)
Ritu Maheshwari receiving Swachh Bharat Mission Award from Yogi Adityanath
- 2021: ODF (Greater Noida) for Municipal Administration by Ministry of Urban Affairs
- 2021: 1st Rank as India’s Cleanest City (Greater Noida) for Municipal Administration by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
- 2021: 5-Star Garbage Free City (Greater Noida) for Municipal Administration by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
Salary
According to pay matrix 14, her pay scale is Rs 37400-67000. [4]Government of Uttar Pradesh
Facts/Trivia
- In her leisure time, she likes to watch movies with her family.
- In an interview, she revealed that if she had not become an IAS officer, she would be an entrepreneur.
- In 2022, she went to Sydney to persuade foreign investors to make investments in foreign companies in Noida and Greater Noida for the purpose of the Global Investors Summit.
Ritu Maheshwari during a speech at an event related to G20 Summit
References
| ↑1 | The Better India |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | Zee News |
| ↑3 | DNA |
| ↑4 | Government of Uttar Pradesh |
