Union territory cadre IAS officer Bezbaruah was shifted to Delhi government as principal secretary and commissioner (transport) last month amid allegations by several political parties that the government had done so under the influence and pressure from a newspaper group. Revocation of Bezboruah's transfer order and the concomitant re-instatement was announced before the Supreme Court, where a three-judge bench headed by justice SP Bharucha was hearing a case against his shifting filed by Janata Party leader Subramaniam Swamy.

Solicitor-general Santosh Hegde informed the three-judge bench on behalf of the government that "the union of India shall revoke the impugned order dated August 13 of transfer of Bezbaruah as director of Enforcement Directorate with immediate effect and post him as Enforcement Directorate director''.

Hegde, however, put a rider by saying that "the continuance of Bezbaruah as director of Enforcement Directorate, his transfer or replacement will be decided by the select committee in accordance with the law".

The Supreme Court bench then directed that the solicitor-general's statement be given effect immediately. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court had described the union government's affidavit on his transfer as "misleading" and criticised it for "misquoting (an apex court) judgment" to justify its action.

Faced with a discomfiture on the Bezbaruah issue, prime minister AB Vajpayee on Wednesday ordered Hegde to enquire how a wrong affidavit was filed before the Supreme Court and fix responsibility for it.

The government decision to shift Bezbaruah had come under severe attack from opposition parties, including the CPI(M), the Janata Dal and the DMK as also the Trinamool Congress, an ally of the government.

Jayalalitha had demanded re-instatement of Bezbaruah as enforcement director and alleged that "persons very close" to the prime minister had been paid "hefty bribes" by a media baron for his transfer.

Jayalalitha contended that the transfers, including that of the then finance secretary MS Ahluwalia, were made without the consent of the minister of state for finance MR Janarthanan, her party nominee in the ministry.

The government had, however, denied Jayalalitha's allegations as `unfortunate and baseless' and maintained that administrative reshuffle was a routine exercise and that there was no question of appeasing anyone.

The CPI(M) hailed the re-instatement of Bezbaruah saying the wrong decision had been set right. The BJP, however, declined to make any comment saying it was a matter between the apex court and the government.

Bezbaruah himself refused to react saying he would first like to read the Supreme Court order.

Bezbaruah was appointed as director enforcement in November 3, 1995, for a tenure of five years. He was, however, shifted to the Delhi government without completing the term.

Though he was appointed principal secretary and transport commissioner in the Delhi government, Bezbaruah had refused to join the new assignment and requested for employment with the central government.