The government Wednesday removed film actor Anupam Kher as head of the Central Board of Film Certification and appointed actress Sharmila Tagore in his place.

In a statement Wednesday evening, the government announced that Tagore had taken over as chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification, known as the Censor Board.

"She has been appointed in an honorary capacity for a period of three years from the date of assumption of charge or until further orders whichever is earlier," said a spokesman of the information and broadcasting ministry.

Tagore, 58, the dimple-cheeked veteran of many Hindi and Bengali films who enjoyed both critical acclaim and popular appeal, took charge immediately, even before Kher, who had been asked by the government to resign, had put in his papers.

Kher was appointed by the former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government last year.

Though a defiant Kher maintained a diplomatic silence on the move by the Manmohan Singh government, sources said he preferred to be sacked by the government.

When asked for reaction to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) move, Kher only said he had not received any communication from the information and broadcasting ministry.

"I have not received any official communication still. I will be addressing a press conference in this regard in New Delhi tomorrow," Kher told reporters in Mumbai Wednesday.

The UPA government's directive is seen to be a result of pressure from the Left parties which want the government to replace appointees of the NDA government in key organisations.