Malhotra is currently member of Securities and Appellate Tribunal (SAT), Mumbai.
The vacancy was necessitated following superannuation of V K Bhasin.
The Appointments Committee of Cabinet also approved additional charge of Secretary, Department of Disinvestment to D K Mittal.
Mittal, a 1977 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, is currently Secretary, Department of Financial Services.
"M F Farooqui, IAS (TN:78), Special Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests will hold additional charge of the post of Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests for a period of three months with effect from December 1, 2012 or till the appointment of a regular incumbent to the post, whichever is earlier," an official release said today.
Whereas, Dr T Ramasami, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology will hold additional charge of the post of Secretary, Department of Biotechnology for a period of three months with effect from December 1, 2012, the release said.