Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Secretary Tom Jose, who is retiring on May 31, was given a warm send-off by the state government on Saturday evening.

“The new generation of civil servants who consider political leader's as obstacles in their career should learn from Jose,” Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said lauding the services of Jose.

In his 36-year long career, Jose held several important positions, including Managing Director of Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation and Kochi Metro.

Speaking on the occasion, Jose said the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) had given him "unparalleled opportunity."

Jose had taken charge on July 1, 2018 as chief secretary and had handled the two consecutive floods which had devastated the state, Nipah virus and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Vishwas Mehta will take over as the new chief secretary on Monday.

Meanwhile, 18 senior police officers, including 11 from the IPS, are retiring on Sunday.

DGP and Metal Industries Ltd Chairman and Managing Director Jacob Thomas, DGP and Fire and Rescue service Director General A Hemachandran, Police Training College Principal, A Vijayan, are among the officers retiring on Sunday.

Some of the retiring officers participated in an online send off organised by DGP Loknath Behera.