(Ex Central Vigilance Commissioner)

• Polayil Joseph Thomas born on 13th Jan, 1951 in Vaikom, Kottayam, Kerala.
• His father was Additional Secretary Finance, Govt of Kerala and Mother was Assistant Secretary in Motor Vehicle Department, Govt. of Kerala.
• His schooling was in Govt. Model School and he completed his BSc and MSc in University College, Thiruvananthapuram.
• He scored 10th Rank all over India in IAS Exams. He also has Masters Degree in Economics to his credit.
• He completed Diploma in Public Administration from International Institute of Public Administration, Paris.
• Thomas, a 1973-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, held several important assignments in the state.

• He was appointed Kerala's Chief Secretary in 2007 and before that had been Secretary in several important ministries.
• Additional Chief Secretary (Higher Education)
• Chief Electoral Officer & Principal Secretary to Government
• Director of Fisheries
• Managing Director of the Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation Limited
• Secretary, Taxes (Board of Revenue)
• Even District Collector, Ernakulam
• Secretary, Kerala Khadi & Village Industries Board
• Sub Collector, Fort, Cochin
• Secretary to Govt. of India (Telecom)
• Served as 14th Central Vigilance Commissioner and retired.

Currently associated with a social cause named Anugrah for the rural and disadvantaged background IAS aspirants along with other civil servants and experts, have started a low cost coaching and customized guidance centre in New Delhi.