PM Modi appoints principal secretary through ordinance

The Ordinance was necessary because of a legal hitch as the TRAI act bars former chiefs from holding government posts. Misra is a 1967-batch retired IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre and his appointment will be co-terminus with the term of the Prime Minister or till further orders, according to an order issued by the Ministry of Personnel. 69-year-old Misra, who has served in various capacities in the government, retired as the Chairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in 2009.

Under Misra’s Chairmanship, TRAI had recommended in August 2007 that spectrum should be auctioned. After the 2G spectrum scam broke out, Misra had deposed as a prosecution witness before a Delhi court hearing a matter in which former Telecom Minister A Raja was an accused. Misra will succeed Pulok Chatterjee, who served in Manmohan Singh’s PMO.

The Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister is a key post and acts as main link for coordination among Prime Minister’s Office, Cabinet Secretariat and Secretaries of ministries.