Tasavur Mushtaq
Srinagar
After many speculations in the past, J&K Governor from last over nine years, Narendra Nath Vohra, is all set to pave way for new Governor, early next month, informed sources told Kashmir Life.
The sources Wednesday evening confirmed that the file of resignation has been sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for final approval.
After scouting for a replacement for several months, central government, sources said have finalized name of incumbent union home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi.
Born on August 08, 1955 in Rajasthan, Mehrishi, a 1978 batch IAS officer from Rajasthan is all set to retire on August 31 after completing his two year term as home secretary.
Believed to be close to NDA government, Mehrishi, on August 31, 2015, the day he was to retire as Union Finance Secretary was asked to continue for two more years as home secretary.
Mehrishi who holds a degree in business administration from Strathclyde Business School, Glasgow has served at key positions in both central government as well as in Rajasthan, his allotted cadre.
The outgoing governor, N N Vohra took over from Lt Gen (retd) S K Sinha on June 25, 2008 and is currently serving second term. He is going ten months ahead of his term.
It was reported earlier that Vohra had written to central government asking it for his replacement citing his “age and health.”
A veteran, Vohra 81, a career bureaucrat and retired IAS officer of 1959 batch of Punjab cadre was the first civilian governor of J&K after Jagmohan in nearly two decades and was awarded Padma Vibhushan in 2007 for his services.
He held very important positions in his career and was recalled from retirement to head the PMO as Principal Secretary to Prime Minister I.K. Gujral during 1997-98.
Vohra is considered to be the Kashmir expert. Before being appointed as 12th governor of J&K, Vohra had been the central government’s interlocutor in Kashmir. During his tenure as interlocutor, he held wide-ranging discussions with both the unionists and separatist in the valley.
His was in command to withdraw the controversial Amarnath land shrine transfer order in 2008.
His appointment was hailed as being signal to address Kashmir issue politically.
A lecturer in his initial days at Punjab university, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Law by the university in 2011.
A writer as well, Vohra has edited over a dozen books and served as an IAS officer till 1994 Before his retirement, he was appointed as home secretary in 1993.
Considered to be a ‘crisis manager’, Vohra was also appointed as home secretary of Punjab after the operation Blue Star where it is said he “managed peaceful elections in 1985.”
Pertinently the year 2008, he came to Kashmir as governor, valley was up in flames against the land transfer to Amarnath shrine board. The subsequent events marked the exit of chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad as PDP withdrew its support from the coalition government.
Later Vohra had to face the unrest of 2009, 2010 and recently 2016. In between his tenure of over nine years, he had two assembly elections in the state.
A tough master, as people in power corridors believe him to be, he had been in command during the imposition of central rule in the state, latest being after the demise of PDP patron and former chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed in January 2016.
