Nripendra Misra was formally named principal secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the government issued an ordinance on Wednesday evening, clearing the way for the appointment.
Though he had taken over on Tuesday itself, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) Act made Misra “ineligible” for further employment at both the Centre and state government. Misra headed the regulator in 2006-09.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided on the ordinance route as he did not want to change his choice for principal secretary, said a person familiar with discussions at the highest government level.
Modi had selected Misra, a UP cadre IAS officer of the 1967 batch, after interviewing four other contenders for the job. The appointment became official after the ordinance was promulgated by President Pranab Mukherjee.
The snag in Misra’s appointment was holding up other crucial appointments in the Prime Minister’s Office, including that of the National Security Advisor.
“Modi wanted Misra only for the topmost job in the PMO. Realising that an ordinance was the only way out, he discussed it in the cabinet meeting on Tuesday,” said the person.