New Delhi : Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Girish Chandra Murmu has been appointed as the new Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. Murmu is replacing Rajiv Mehrishi, a 1978 batch IAS officer of the Rajasthan cadre, as the CAG
In a surprise development,G.C. Murmu had resigned from the post on Wednesday, which is exactly a year after the nullification of Article 370 and reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir, bifurcating it into two Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Murmu's resignation came barely nine months after he took over the reins of the newly created Union Territory.
Meanwhile Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manoj Sinha was appointed as the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday.
President Ram Nath Kovind has accepted the resignation of Murmu as Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, and appointed Sinha for the post.
"The President has been pleased to appoint Manoj Sinha to be the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office vice Girish Chandra Murmu," a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement on Thursday announced.
The Hon'ble President of India has been pleased to appoint Shri Manoj Sinha to be the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir from the date he assumes charge of his office. pic.twitter.com/UyssnoJ9u2
— DIPR-J&K (@diprjk) August 6, 2020
Sinha has represented the parliamentary constituency of Ghazipur in eastern Uttar Pradesh thrice in the Lok Sabha. He was defeated by Bahujan Samaj Party's Afzal Ansari in last year's Lok Sabha polls. Sinha has also served as junior Railway Minister.
A 1985 batch IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre, Girsh Chandra Murmu was Principal Secretary to Narendra Modi when he was Chief Minister of Gujarat. He became the first Lt Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.