Conceding the ‘oversight’ behind omission of ‘foreign secretary’ from the list of senior bureaucrats with extendable tenures who figure in Fundamental Rules, 1922 as amended on Monday, the government on Wednesday issued a corrigendum restoring the post of foreign secretary in the amended rule.

Rule 56(d) of Fundamental Rules, 1922 – prior to Monday’s amendment – pertained to top functionaries like home secretary, defence secretary, foreign secretary, and the chiefs of Intelligence Bureau and RAW, whose tenures could be extended by the government up to a maximum of two years and beyond as specified. The amended Rule 56(d), while adding the directors of ED and CBI to this list, curiously left out foreign secretary.

Media had on Tuesday written that the omission of foreign secretary from the list in Rule 56(d) could be an oversight.

The original rule provided for a two-year term for foreign secretary, extendable by another year. This now stands restored.

(With inputs from agencies)