What used to be rare earlier has become the norm in the NaMo administration insofar as appointments/promotions & empanelment of civil servants are concerned. For instance, the lateral shift of even a Joint Secretary was rare earlier. Now, even secretaries are not spared. The principle of longer tenure is no longer considered sacrosanct as performance and perception matter a lot. Recently, when a long list of appointment of secretaries including fresh appointments & lateral shifts, was made public on 21 June, one lateral shift, rather swapping of posts, drew much attention. Almost everyone was awestruck and was unable to place the reason. In fact, Jagdish Prasad Meena (IAS:1983:AM) was brought back to Min of Food Processing Industries within 41 days. Meena who served Min of FPI (as JS, Additional Secretary & Special Secretary) for over seven years was made Secretary, Consumer Affairs on 10 May 2017 but on 21 June 2017, he was brought back as Secretary, FPI. Further FPI Secretary Avinash Kumar Srivastava (IAS:1982:UP) was shifted to Dept of Consumer Affairs. It is learnt that it was neither a punishment nor a reward. The Food Processing Industries Minister is believed to have been keen to bring back Meena as Secretary where he served as Special Secretary whereas Srivastava, too, was keen on another assignment. Even if this was the reason, it was hard to believe because, in matters of postings & promotion, the current administration has displayed little respect for one's choice; it always follows its own choice. So the speculation whirls around as what led to the said lateral shift in such a short span of time. Was it the minister's choice or secretary's request or both?