Rajiv Sikri submits regination

New Delhi, Sept 11 (UNI) Mr Rajiv Sikri, Secretary (East) in the External Affairs Ministry, has submitted his resignation following the announcement of the new Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon.

Mr Sikri, a 1970 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, is the senior-most IFS officer who was slated to succeed outgoing Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran.

Official sources said Mr Sikri had submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh before he left for Cuba to attend the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit.

It was not however, clear whether Mr Sikri had resigned or had availed the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS), the sources added.

''His resignation has probably not been accepted so far as he continues to be in office,'' the sources said adding the Prime Minister is currently out of the country.

Mr Menon, who is at present High Commissioner to Pakistan, will take over as the new Foreign Secretary from October one. A 1972 batch IFS officer, Mr Menon retires in July 2009 while Mr Sikri was to retire in January 2008.

Mr Menon supercedes 15 IFS officers, immediate being Mr T C A Rangachari, currently India's Ambassador to France. Mr Rangachari, also a 1970 batch IFS officer, retires in September 2007.

UNI RB AK VV1836