01, Sep 2015

Rajiv Mehrishi replaces LC Goyal at North Block
In a sudden and surprise move, the Narendra Modi government on Monday gave marching orders to L.C. Goyal as Union home secretary, and named senior IAS officer Rajiv Mehrishi for the top job at MHA. A 1979-batch IAS officer, Mr Goyal had barely completed six months in the high-profile post, which has a two-year fixed tenure. The new home secretary, Mr Mehrishi, the handpicked choice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was serving as secretary in the department of economic affairs in the finance ministry and was due to retire on Monday. He took charge as home secretary on Monday itself, hours after Mr Goyal resigned.
With Mr Mehrishi’s appointment, the home ministry under Rajnath Singh has got a third home secretary in less than two years of the NDA government coming to power at the Centre. An order issued by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, headed by the Prime Minister, said: “Mr Goyal’s request for voluntary retirement from service has been accepted with immediate effect by waiving off the notice period.” It further said Mr Mehrishi has been appointed home secretary for a period of two years from the date of taking charge from the incumbent.