The appointment of the new CMDs to BSNL and MTNL is now likely go under a scrutiny.
There are allegations that former telecom minister A. Raja and his aide R.K. Chandolia changed the criteria for the appointment on these posts by selecting their own favourites ignoring the Sam Pitroda Committee’s recommendations on the issue.
New telecom minister Kapil Sibal, when contacted, by this newspaper, didn’t reject the idea of intervening in the new appointments. “Let the file come to me then I will look into the matter,” said Mr Sibal.
A committee under the Cabinet Secretary had selected Telecommunications Consultants India Limited chairman and managing director R.K. Upadhyay for the post of CMD for BSNL and Kuldip Singh for MTNL. Mr Singh is director (technical) on the MTNL board and also holds the additional charge of CMD of the PSU.
These appointments have to be vetted by the Cabinet Committee on Appointments. However, this decision of the committee has been challenged in the Delhi high court by advocate Prashant Bhushan, who is appearing for Telecom Watchdog and Executive Association of Sanchar Nigam.
The Sam Pitroda Committee, which was formed by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, had recommended that the post of the chairman and managing director should be split. The chairman should be an eminent person who is able to withstand the political pressure and can act independently for the benefit of the company. It had also recommended that the professionals should be appointed for the top post in these two PSUs. There should not be any preference for the people from within PSUs for the top post and professionals from both the private and public sector should be treated at par when looking for new appointments.
However, Mr Raja and Mr Chandolia misused the Pitroda Committee report and formed a search committee filled up by their own people, alleged Telecom Watchdog, secretary, Mr Anil Kumar.
He said that the duo changed the conditions so that only their own favourite could qualify for the appointment of the new CMDs. “Around 170 people had applied for these two posts. But on Sunday when common wealth game was being held in Delhi, they suddenly called only 12 people for interview and that too when the cabinet secretary was not present. Just like they had done in 2G scam,” said Mr Kumar.
The next day Mr Raja took five people to meet the cabinet secretary and Mr Upadhyay and Mr Singh were selected for the post of CMD BSNL and MTNL, respectively, added Mr Kumar.