NEW DELHI: Former IAS officer VS Oberoi, who had served the Centre and the state in various capacities, passed away on Friday.
He was admitted in Medanta hospital here and died of stroke.
The official belonging to the 1979 batch of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, had served as the Secretary, Higher Education, from June 2015 to February 2017 when Smriti Irani was the Union HRD minister.
Besides serving in the HRD Ministry, Oberoi was also Secretary, Women and Child Development Ministry and served as India’s ambassador and permanent representative at UNESCO.
According to reports, Oberoi played a key role in getting the Institution of Eminence project off the ground and in drafting of the Indian Institute of Management Act which empowers IIMs to grant degrees to the students.
Condoling the demise of Oberoi, Union minister Irani on Saturday tweeted: “Colleague, father figure, friend. Was blessed to serve with him in HRD when he donned the hat of Secretary Higher Education. Though we lost him last night, his guidance & kindness will stay with me forever.”
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu tweeted: “Deeply saddened by the demise of Vinay Sheel Oberoi, former Secretary Higher Education, Union HRD Ministry, GOI.” “We have lost an amazing personality who had spent time in North East and had great passion for the region and for Arunachal. May the departed soul rest in peace,” he added.
