Union Minister Arun Jaitley today resumed charge of the ministries of finance and corporate affairs after a nearly 100-day gap during which he underwent a surgery for kidney transplant.
Jaitley, 65, who had stopped attending office a month-and-half before the May 14 renal surgery, came to North Block -- the seat of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs -- at 1100 hrs in his white Tata Safari accompanied by his personal staff.
Attired in formal trousers and wearing a characteristic smile, Jaitley went straight to his first-floor office, which had been renovated and sanitised to suit his present condition.
He was greeted by a host of officials and his deputies. He acknowledged them with folded hands and also waived at people waiting for him.
Jaitley started work after getting a clearance from his doctors, official sources said.
He met senior officials in both the ministries including Finance Secretary Hashmukh Adhia as also the chairpersons of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC).
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Sources said doctors have advised him to cut his public interaction to the minimum to protect him from contracting any infection.
The limited visitors to his room are required to cover their shoes with the blue plastic bags that are used in hospitals.
Earlier in the day, a communique from the Rashtrapati Bhavan said, "The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has directed to assign the portfolios of the Minister of Finance and Minister of Corporate Affairs to Shri Arun Jaitley."
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