The move came a day after the Steering Committee Against Murder of Democracy (SCAMOD) two-week deadline to the state government to appoint a new judge to head the Shillong jailbreak probe.
''Retired Justice SP Rajkhowa has been appointed to head the probe and he would take over the charge very soon,'' Chief Secretary WMS Pariat said, adding that terms of reference would however remain unchanged.
Mr Pariat said the new judge would decide whether to carry out fresh probe or to take over case from where Justice Biswas had left.
The probe of Shillong jailbreak was only half-way after Justice D Biswas quit the inquiry commission on April 10 to take up as the Chairman of the Assam Lok Ayukta.
Earlier, the Chief Minister had assured the Assembly that a new clause would be added during appointment of the new judge so that he does not leave the inquiry commission half-way.
After the resignstion of Justice D Biswas, the state government was under pressure from various social organisations under the umbrella of the SCAMOD to appoint a new judge to head the probe.
The Justice Biswas commission was given two extensions to complete the probe and the last one expired on May 31 this year.
Seven prisoners, including two undertrials, escaped from the Shillong jail on May 31 last year and subsequently most of them were caught again while Fullmoon Dhar, the ringleader, was gunned down by police in the Jaintia Hills.