Dr Jairaj Moreshwar Phatak, an IAS officer of 1978 batch, served as the 25^th Municipal Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), India, from May 2007 to October 2009. He is known for his Encyclopaedic knowledge and sharp replies. He succeeded Johny Joseph as the Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai in May 2007. Earlier, he served as the Principal Secretary in Urban Development department of Maharashtra Government. During his tenure as Secretary, school education department was lauded for the efforts he undertook to improve welfare of students. Significantly, where ever Dr Phatak was posted, as a Collector Nagpur, Municipal Commissioner, Mumbai or Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Corporation, he made his presence felt. Dr Phatak retired from service in 2015 after more than three and a half decades of service.