Published On : Thu, Aug 23rd, 2018

As Jaitley resumes work, all visitors told to wear sanitised shoes

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New Delhi: Arun 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.

Wearing a 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 waved 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).

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.

Jaitley had undergone a renal transplant operation on May 14. On that day, the charge of his ministry was given to Minister for Railways and Coal Piyush Goyal on an interim basis. Jaitley had remained a minister without portfolio in the Narendra Modi government since then.