The Central government on Wednesday named senior Indian Foreign Service officer K P Ernest as India's High Commissioner to New Zealand in place of Harish Kumar Dogra, who has been recalled and proceeded on leave.
A 1975 batch IFS officer, Ernest, will assume his charge shortly, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said in New Delhi.
Ernest is additional secretary, Policy Planning and Research, Ministry of External Affairs. The government has withdrawn accreditation to Dogra and the new appointment has been conveyed to New Zealand Foreign Office and the country's High Commissioner in New Delhi, Sarna said.
He said Dogra was recalled on March one as per the relevant service rules. Dogra had indicated that he would return to India by the first week of April. Later, he said he would return by April 15 but did not adhere to his own schedule.
