P. H. Kurian, former Kerala official and patent chief, dies at 67

P. H. Kurian, a prominent 1986-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, has passed away at the age of 67. Throughout his career, Kurian held several high-ranking positions in the Kerala government, including Additional Chief Secretary, District Collector, and the first chairman of the Kerala Real Estate Regulatory Authority.

He is widely recognized for his tenure as the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks from 2009 to 2012. During this time, he oversaw significant administrative reforms and issued a landmark 62-page order in favor of Natco Pharma. This decision granted India’s first compulsory license for a generic version of Bayer’s cancer drug, Nexavar, significantly reducing the cost of the medication for patients.

In addition to his work in intellectual property, Kurian served as Revenue Secretary, where he led relief efforts during the 2018 floods, and as IT Secretary, where he helped establish Kerala’s startup ecosystem. He was noted by colleagues for his commitment to transparency and his tendency to interpret laws in ways that benefited the public.